The Stratford Evening Post WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE EGMONT SETTLER MONDAY, JUNE 28, 1915. THE SETTLERS' REAL INTEREST

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXVII, Issue 49, 28 June 1915, Page 4

The Stratford Evening Post WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE EGMONT SETTLER MONDAY, JUNE 28, 1915. THE SETTLERS' REAL INTEREST

A matter of very groat importance to the future well-being of Taranaki, as we have on more than one occasion

pointed out, is the establishment of producers' freezing works to cope with the yearly increasing export demands of our district, and, we believe, the great majority of settlers are now convinced of this. But to he of the greatest service the works must be eroded without unnecessary delay, and therefore a special word to intending shareholders is imperative at this stage. It will he remembered that as a result of the canvass made over eight thousand shares were promised to lie taken up, this being the minimum upon which it was considered wise to proceed with the project. Encouraged by those promises the Provisional Directors have registered the company, and are now negotiating for a silo for the works, and lor that purpose have hold several meetings. The matter has now advanced to a stage when it is necessary to have the formal applications for shares in, and the Directors therefore request those who have promised to take shares, as well as others whoso ncmes are not already down hut are willing to subscribe, to sign the usual application forms' and send them in with the application money without any further delay. The project has been well-discussed and should not neerl further advocacy, but the necessity for having a. sufficiency of capital wherewith to commence operations, so that they may proceed to fruition, is of paramount importance. The minimum of shares fixed before the format ion of the Company was, of course, obtained with a reasonable margin over and above the eight thousand standard set. Hut time presses, and many undoubted friends of the movement- which is of themselves and for themselves, as thev must surelv r«a-

lii»«—have been somewhat indolent in doing their share, which is merely to fill up and send in applications for the shares they have promised to take up. i'Jie Directors have done a great deal, but their efforts will be. to an extent.nullilied if the requisite applications are not in. because they will bo unable to conclude the negotiations for the site for the works or cable Home an order for the machinery. If the works are to be ready to receive stock at the beginning of next season the order for machinery must be cabled immediately and tenders he called at an early date for the erection of the necessary buildings, and it need scarcely be pointed out that the Directors cannot undertake all this re-

sponsibility until the minimum share capital is actually applied for in black and white. We i'eei certain that for

no other reason than mere apathy or forgetfulness are settlers neglecting to keep their promise in this matte)'. It is now quite settled that the produce will be shipped from New Plymouth, and that the works will lie erected ill the vicinity of Lepperton, so as to he handiest for receiving

stock from all parts and shipping the frozen produce, thus securing economy in working. Direct shipment of frozen meat from New Plymouth must he to the interest of the whole province, for increased trade means more revenue and les« chance of that unpleasantly possible happening—the levying of a New Plymouth Harbour rate once again. There ought to be

an immense community of interest in' Taranaki in our import and export, trade, and therefore every settler and every business man who would like to see Taranaki go forward, and who also recognises that the establishment of freezing works with their outlet at! .New Plymouth must come .sooner or later, and who may yet have preferred some other site, must wake up to the fact that apportunity is now knocking at the door. It is highly desirable that tenders be decided at! once and the real work of erection started if the works are to be up in

time for the coming season. There must be a great number of settlers and business men in the district who could easily fake up shares 'and prob-j ably would do so if approached in the

right way) in addition to those who have a heady promised to do so, and

they will be welcomed. Further, they should not want to lie asked: they should step out and volunteer to associate in an important public undertaking which, in addition, has the merit of being what ought to prove a sound private investment.