The Taihape Daily Times AND WAIMARINO ADVOCATE. MONDAY, MARCH 1, 1915. THE FREEZING WORKS.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume 7, Issue 151, 1 March 1915, Page 4

The Taihape Daily Times AND WAIMARINO ADVOCATE.

MONDAY, MARCH 1, 1915. THE FREEZING WORKS.

(With which is inco'poratfld The Ttii hape Post ',.n3 W<iimarln«) News.)

Saturday was a red-letter day for Taihapc—the day which will go down to posterity as the period of materialisation of one of the best enterprises that could possibly engage the attention and support, of our rural community. The disposal of ✓-the necessary seven thousand £5 shares, to enable the Otaihape Meat and Produce Company to proceed with the erection of freezing works at Winiata, is no small achievement for a young district, especially in the present circumstances when the community is keeping a cautious eye on the purse-strings. Congratulations are therefore clue to the provisional directors on the success which has attended their mission, and on the surmounting of innumerable obstacles which promised, at different stages of the proposal, to have an extremely deterrent effect. However, tactful, patient and tenacious handling of the various problems has enabled the directors to successfully pursue every course converging towrds culmination of their efforts. * * * When the establishment of freezing works by a farmers' company, conducted on co-opera-tive lines, was first mooted, some croakers flouted the proposition, pessimists with vested interests croaked in the same dull tone. Doubting Thomas availed himself of every opportunity to interject with a dissentient note, parochialism promised to be a weighty bludgeon, and generally the. presence of dull but deep opposition

was, unfortunately, apparent. Included in those who endeavoured to set as brakes on the wheels of prosperity wore the adherents of some adopted conviction that inland freezing works could not pay. These anchors on the ship of progress promised to moor the vessel in the dull waters of stagnation. However, the freezing works proposal has been well handled, it has become devoid of retardation, and the farmers have been educated to realise and appreciate its many attractive features. Nowadays the pessimist is almost entirely absent —anyway. a negligble quantity; the croaker with vested interests knows that he has barked his shins vainly kicking- against a sound and desirable scheme, facts and figures have brought the originl Doubting Thomas into the share-list, and optimism gives place to visions of foredoomed failure; parochialism has proved a harmless 'weapon; many who were harsh critics six months ago are now the keenest advocates; those who spoke of non-success of inland works must have since heard something about Waiiigawa and the extension of the Longburn works to accommodate an increasing business, for now they lift not their voices. To-day the farmers of the district are a happy family when the freezing works are mentioned. A confident spirit is manifest in a proposal which has become such a concrete enterprise, which varying adverse circumstances could not; check and, after a long fight. fringed with vicissitudes of magnitude, the directors have beei\ placed in the happy position of having accepted tenders for the erection of works on the site of eighty-two acres purchased at Winiata. * * * *

So much for what has been ac complished. In the immediate future important proposals will engage the attention of the direc-

ate. The installation of a canning plant is of first importance The strongest evidence so far advanced in its favour is the statement of Mr. James, the Com pany's engineer, thai canning works are a success everywhere and that he has been commissioned to instal two plants in the Dominion for a British firm. Thorn, the directors are in favour of the installation and they have abundant evidence of the desirability.. we may say the necessity, for have a canning plant. It is not a case of "fools rush in where angels fear to tread" but a question as to whether the shareholders are going to risk "spoiling the ship for a ha'penorth of tar." It-'would be a deplorable happening if the successful operations of the Company were frustrated through the non-expenditure orwhat is undoubtedly a necessity. and a profitable necessity, too. At the meeting on Wednesday the canning works' proposal will be discussed, and ire" hope that the proceedings vfiil -be' characterised"'by tli'e Samr- enthusiastic Spirit as has pern'ieated' p ! ast meetings and that then? will be an ex'pressed ''''unanimous ' 'desire to make a combined effort to place the necessary five hundred shares required to allow of the' canning pant being installed for the first season. tv r p trust 1 hat shareholder's. '. will rise'"to the occasion. Looked at from any point of view the success , which has attended the efforts' of the promoters is a splendid thing for our primary producers and the town generally. Meantime, .we heartily congratulate the farmers on then achievement, and look forward tr: the output from the Winiat? works gaining a reputation on the London market synonymous with "best,Canterbury." ■