The Taihape Daily Times. AND WAIMARINO ADVOCATE THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 1918 THE OTAIHAPE MEAT COMPANY.

Taihape Daily Times, 19 September 1918, Page 4

The Taihape Daily Times. AND WAIMARINO ADVOCATE

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 1918 THE OTAIHAPE MEAT COMPANY.

(With which is Incorporated ‘The faihape Post and Walroarl'i" Nev’S>

Lack of discussion and tlie unanimity with which the reports and statements of the past year’s operations were accepted and adopted at the annual general meeting of shareholders in the Otaihape Meat and Produce Company, held yesterday, constituted abundant evidence that a successful year’s operations had been experienced. The chairman’s remarks in moving the adoption of the report and statement of accounts did not traverse any realm of uncertainty; they were a straight-out story of the past and of the prospects of the future,, and no shareholder disagreed with him. The year just terminated has proved an easy record, both .for stock handled and foj; financial results. Shareholders had loyally patronised their own institution and they individually, and as a company, come out well on the right side. This is, of course, extremely satisfactory to the farmers themselves, hut the success of this company has a much wider significance to Taihape business people, to every man and woman in the district, as it constitutes no little step forward in general progress. The j money paid for wages and other seri vices remain here; the profits from the j company’s operatipns goes into the 1 pockets of the farmers hereabout, who I own their own works, making the territory so much richer than it was before; ■it gives a greater spending power to our population in the towii as well as to our farming community. This aspect is drawn attention to, as oft-tinies, those who are not actua* shareholders, assuming that they are not interested take a course that tends to discourage while it is actually in their best interests to encourage. Shareholders are rendering a great public service; they have the usual profits on the sale of their stock, and they are building a huge and immensely valuable asset, which, incidentally j may be regarded as a valuable local industry that must grow in importance as a revenue-producing and a labour-employing concern. When war conditions make it practicable it is probable a meat-canning department will come into existence, employing still more labour, and business men in the town need no telling what that means. Last year no less than £13,036 were spent in salaries, working expenses and rent, which indicates what the works may grow into hy continued loyal practical support of all farmers and ’ moral support of ( all sections of the community. A j farmer who is not a shareholder may I doubt whether the freezing works are of any benefit to him; he will come to learn that such an institution at his door, even if he, dog-in-the-manger like, sends his stock out of the district, enables him to get better prices for what he does sell, and he will feel rather awkward when meat trusts are no longer operating and he finds it to I his advantage to have to go to the works he has discouraged; that time will come, and it is hoped that those who go past their' own district works will he few indeed. We do not propose to comment upon the balancesheet presented, only to make a few commonplace remarks First, it is a testimonial of an unapproachable order to the managing-secretary. Mr. Carroll, for it is scarcely credible tha? last year’s position could have been so satisfactorily retrieved in only year’s work. The profit and loss account is much condensed, and, although it only shows a profit* has been made of some £4074, there is much very gratifying reading between the lines which augurs well for the company’s future. The whole Taihape district, as well as shareholders, directors, and managing-secretary, may be congratulated on the success the Otaihapo Meat and Produce Company has achieved in the past year.