CO-OP. FREEZING WORKS.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXV, Issue 74, 30 March 1915, Page 8

CO-OP. FREEZING WORKS.

(Eltham Argus.) j A meeting of farmers lor the purpose of discussing the pro'.u sd to establish, co-operative freezing works in Tava-j naki was held in Eltham on Saturday afternoon. Mr J. T. Quin presided over an attendance of about thirty. In outlining the scheme the chairman! said that all were aware what co-oper-ation had done in the past. Go-oper-j ation had taken the place of the small 1 dairy companies. To-day we were placed in the position of the small producer having no say in the matter of shipping space. That should not be. The Home Government was of no advantage to the producer. He thought the time had arrived for the establishment of cooperative works. The thing to consider was where to erect the works. The site must necessarily be near a good harbor. The scheme would not bo gone on with unless sufficient capital was. supplied by the producer. The sum of £IOO,OOO had been mentioned as the sum required. Financial assistance could be given by banks or other instil tutions. Fie did not think the works could bo started with ,under £65,000. Ho appealed to those present that in the interests of the district the scheme should be-gone on with and the works erected. It would be no use going into the matter half-heartedly. They did not want a dividend-paying concern. (Hear, hear.) They wanted works that would give the farmer full value for his stock. (Hear, hear.) Meetings were being held in various districts of Taranaki, and if support wore not forthcoming the scheme would be. dropped. Considerable tune would bo taken to lloat ~a company, import machinery, and do the various other things necessary ‘ in connection with such a big scljeme. He trusted they would give the matter their full attention, otherwise-they would always he the prey of the middle man. Mr Christoffel said it would be a good tiling if a guarantee for throe years was given by shareholders. That was done in dairy factories and it would apply- very well in the case d the fieezipg works also. Tho chairman said that at present there was, no intention of tying the ,shareholders down to those conditions. Some discussion took place regarding the finances of tjie proposed company. Mr Walsh said that several concerns had failed through insufficient capital. The chairman said it would be foolishness to start unless they had sufficient support. Another farmer said that his experience of these concerns twas that the directors generally - had to bear the ■whole burden. ’The suggestion was made that to get over the difficulty every individual shareholder be made a guarantor. Voicest -‘You won’t get them.” The chairman said he considered an important question was the matter of a site. There must be a river near. Mr Christoffel said a start should not be made until the sum of £65,000 ,had been subscribed, i i would not do to borrow a bigger sum. The meeting appointed Mr H. B. Best!,the delegate to represent them m Stratford. Mr Barnard, in moving that the scheme he supported, said it would be a good thing for small farmers. Mr I. Sanderson seconded the motion, which was carried, there being a few. dissentients.

The following £5 shares were taken Up: Mr J. Sanderson 20, Mr Barnard 3, Mr W. N. Jenkins 5, Mr H. P. Best 20, Mr N. Brown 10, Mr A. Copple-ston-S, Mr G. Coppfeston 2, Mr M. A. Skitter 5.