Waitara Freezing Works.

Opunake Times, Volume II, Issue 79, 5 April 1895, Page 2

Waitara Freezing Works.

— The following report was submitted to a meeting held at Waitara on Saturday on the cost of acquiring and running the Waitara Freezing Works. It was resolved to endeavor to float a limited cou p-any to purchase the works on behalf of the farming and dairy industries. REPORT. The committee, after premising that the facts and figures contained in their report as to working had been most carefully obtained and represented the actual cost of working when the works were in operation under the Egmont Freezing Company, also set out a statement showing the estimated cost per mouth of providing cool storage for dairy produce. The difference is as one to four, chiefly owing to the shorter time which the engines would be working in one case. The figures were set out in two tables as follow ; (A.) Table showing cost of working plant at Waitara Freezing Works for one month, to freeze 6000 sheep (or equivalent), working 24 hours per day. • £ Wages—Three engineers, one for each shift ... ... 50 Three firemen, one for each shift ... ... 27 One greaser ... ... 10 Three chambermen ... 27 One runner 8 One tallow man ... 10 Slaughtering 6000 sheep 20s per 100... ••• 60 Cost of coal for one month ... 125 Total of working ...£317 N.B.—These figures (with the exception of the item for coal) would apply equally as well for any other class. (B.) Table showing estimated cost of working plant at Waitara Freezing Works for one month, to supply cool storage for dairy produce, working eight or ten hours per day. Wages—One engineer ... ... 16 One fireman 9 Two chambermen ... 18 Cost of coal ... ... ... 42 Total cost per month ... £BS The report went on to correct misstatements in the report of the provisional committee of the proposed Taranaki Freezing Company. It denied that the machinery at Waitara was out of date and altogether too costly to work. As a matter of fact, the same engines are at present in use in the majority of freezing works in the colony. We have ascertained from a director of the Wellington Meat Frezing Company, which is working both the Haslam and Linde machines, that the cost of working the two engines is identical, with the exception of the item for fuel, which is somewhat in favor of the Linde machine. The extra cost of working a Haslam over that of a Linde machine is therefore nominal where fuel is concerned.

Secondly : They state “ that the cost of working under the modern and the old (Haslam) system is one to four.” This is erroneous to a ridiculous degree, as will be seen by the foregoing figures, the whole item of fuel only representing one-third of the total cost of working. Thirdly : They state “ that the cost of erecting chambers capable of freezing 800 tons of butter and meat, and a cool chamber sufficiently large for the storage of a fortnightly output of cheese, &c.',' together with cost of plant, is estimated not to exceed £4600.” This estimate appears terribly misleading. We can only state that we are informed, on the best authority, that the costs of a Linde machine (or other) and a Haslam of equal freezing capacity are as nearly equal as possible. Considering therefore that the machines and boilers alone at present in the Waitara Freezing Works would cost fully £7500 to replace to-morrow, we utterly fail to see how the New Plymouth Committee can expect to erect larger freezing chambers (and therefore requiring greater freezing power and cool storage than the Waitara works possess) at the small cost of £4500. The present buildings and plant at Waitara would cost £IB,OOO to replace at the present day, and we would suggest to intending supporters of the freezing industry that they should demand from the Taranaki Freezing Company a further and more lucid explanation regarding the class of buildings and power of freezing plant they expect to erect for £4500 before committing themselves, as from information we have we are confident that freezing works capable of doing an equivalent to the Waitara works could not be built for considerably more than twice that sum.

We might now adduce some of the numerous advantages the Waitara works possess over the proposed works at Moturoa. First: The site of the Waitara works is held at a nominal rental of £1 per annum, whereas at Moturoa all suitable sites, being in private bands, acquisition of such property would entail considerable expense. Second; Being situated on the river bank, and having a private wharf connected by tramway with the freezing chamber doors, the expense of transit from the chambers to the punts is effected at a minimum cost. It would be impossible to acquire a similar situation at Moturoa, as the works could not be erected on the wharf.

Third: The Waitara roadstead, by its natural position, is far superior as an anchorage to Mew Plymouth, being more sheltered by the coast line, and affording better holding ground. As evidence of this, the R.M.S. lonic was loading frozen meat in the Waitara roadstead the same day that the Takapuna passed by the breakwater, not being able to communicate. Fourth : The Waitara River affords

every facility for harbouring^and stor* ing cargo punts when not in ude, ftt little or no cost. At New Plymouth, this would be a source of risk and ©l*

pense. Fifth : Harbor dues and whaifagil are very much lower at "Waitara thin at the breakwater. The difference in in the wharfage alone on the estimiw® output per fortnight (200 tons) WOUld amount to £2O per month. Ihere ii also a saving at Waitara of six mililr railage on all goods from all station# south of Sentry Hill. - Six : Woolsheds and dumping plant are already erected at Waitara —a great factor in securing the services of direct liners, and in making up the required amount of cargo. Seventh: The Waitara works possess duplicate engines and boilers, thereby minimising the risks of breakdowns and lowering the insurance premiums on frozen produce. At New Plymouth the erection of one engin© and boiler only is contemplated.^ Eighth : Ample accommodation is provided in the Waitara works for tinning and preserving plant, should such at any time be required. Ninth: Paddocking accommodation at Waitara can be had on most reasonable terms, and no borough by-laws to increase the cost of driving stock. Tenth: Coals can be landed via Waitara at less cost than at'the breakwater, the saving in which would more than equalise the saving in fuel by the Linde machine, as compared with the Haslam (Waitara). Eleventh; The fact that the Waitara works have already proved their utility and capabilities, and that' the tendering and loading of steamers has been an unqualified success. This has yst to be demonstrated at the breakwater. As regards the cost at which the Waitara works can be acquired, the price put on them by the present owners is £4500, but from an interview and correspondence with the manager of the Bank of New Zealand Estates Company, we are assured that should any company be in a position to make a bona fide offer of any reasonable sum, it would be accepted. The Minister of Lands, the Hon. J. Kenzie, has also promised our delegates that Waitara shall be declared a port, a grader appointed, and placed on the same footing as other ports with respect to the Government subsidy. In the face of these facts, persona interested in this industry (so vital to the general welfare of the district) will realise the folly of expending a large sum of money in the erection of new works, with all its attendant risks, when a valuable property of proved capability and so advantageously situated can be acquired at a nominal figure, compared with its original cost. (Signed) F. Blxjok, Chairman of Committee.