THE PROPOSED FREEZING WORKS.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXIV, Issue 9411, 3 April 1909, Page 5

THE PROPOSED FREEZING WORKS.

At Feilding yesterday a meeting of farmers was held to consider the proposal to erect a co-operative freezing works. Mr H. J, Booth, chairman of the Feilding branch of the Farmers’ Union, presided. Mr Cooper, who had been expected to address the meeting, was unable to be present. A telegram was received from the chairman of the Foxton Harbour Board, as ' follows :—Jnst heard of meeting; sorry I cannot be present. Foxton will give a site required for freezing works at the Manawata Heads, and assist your movement all it can.”

Mr R. B. McKenzie said he thought Wellington would be the best position for such a works convenient for farmers on both sides of the range. He would say, judging from past exprience, they should take good care not to let the management of any company that might be formed slip from their hands, for as in trade, so in war, if your guns go to the enemy they are turned against you. The Export Meat Company had been started by farmers, and now it was on the other side. It would be better to start a small concern and keep it in the hands of the farmers.

Mr Morrison thought the last speaker was incorrect, for if a cooperative concern was started the other companies would not be able to compete against it. That . had been proved in Taranaki. He could not fled any fault with the companies for obtaining good dividends; that was their business. In his opinion the shares of a co-operative company should be taken up on the same basis as in the Dairy Companies, namely on the quantity of stock they were freezing. Mr McKenzie explained he did not find fault with the companies, but considered it preferable for the farmers to retain the management of their own concerns

Mr G. Wheeler said the Export Company was started by farmers. Who deserted it? he asked. A Voice; The farmers. Yes, said Mr Wheeler, they sold their shares in the concern, but before doing so they crippled their own company by selling their stock to the highest bidder, with the result that their own company was forced into the position of buying stock to keep the works going. Having done this, they proceeded to unload their own shares, and the company got into the hands of other people. The freezing companies were fstlll willing to freeze farmers stock on their own account. It was their business, but few farmers wished to freeze s and be did not blame them at the present prices. He contended that If a new company was started, h'story would be repeated as in the case of. the Banks Company and the Lougbnru. If a powerful company offered farmers threepence per head more tor their sheep than their own company, the farmers would take it. (A Voice: “Bind the farmers.”) Mr Wheeler continuing, said “Yon cannot bind the farmers; look at the creameries in this district. The farmers do not want to find the money,” In regard to the site of a proposed works for both Wairarapa and the West Coast, Wellington was the only place. The trouble at present was the meat trade was bad. He had not heard a good reason for starting another company. Mr Morrison said the difficulty a farmer had to contend with who froze on his own account was the disposing of his meat in the Loudon market. It would he different with a co-opsrative concern; the best possible price wonld bo obtained* for the shareholders.

The Chairman said all the freezing companies would allow farmers to freeze on their own account, but how were they to know that the stock would be sold at a higher price at Home? Mr Strachan said the voice of the meeting seemed to be opposed to the proposal to form a company, and he proposed that the meeting inform the promoters that it respectfully declined to appoint delegates. This motion was not seconded. The Chairman said the block of the Freezing Works at the present time was caused by the companies holding back their stocks with a view of getting a rise in the price of meat.

Mr MoElroy strongly condemned such action as it compelled farmers to bold their fat stock. Mr R, B. McKenzie moved that Messrs MoEiroy, Morrison, and Wheeler be appointed delegates to the conference/ Mr Wheeler said he was a director of the Meat Export Company, and consequently he thought it was not fitting he should act as proposed, and be declined.

Mr McKenzie’s name was added instead, and the motion was adopted.