The Bacon Industry.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVI, Issue 166, 18 July 1904, Page 2

The Bacon Industry.

MEETINO OF FARMERS. A largely attended meeting of farmere was lipid in tile Town Hall on Saturday 'afternoon to consider the advisabloness of forming' a. co-opera-tive bacon factory, and to receive the report of the delegates appointed at various meetings to inquire as to the suitability of the several factories in the district, with a view to purchase. Mr K. Price was voted to the chair, and after making a few remarks on the growtA of the industry, and the protoble success of a co-operative concern, called on MiMorris, one of the delegates, to lay His report before the meeting. Mr Morris stated that he, with Messrs Harvey, Andrews, and Burgess, had been appointed to inspect and inquire into the suitability of the various factories in the district. They had visited the Inglewood, Fit'/.roy, Frankley Road, and other factories. The delegates were of opinion that the 'best plan would be to get a good up-to-date plant, and Mr McAUum's property at the Frankley Road seemed to him to fill the bill. The Inglewood factory was well eqjuippod, but all things considered ho preferred Air McAUum's. This and Mr Brake's at Fi-taroy were under oirer. Mr McAllum hod offered a Rite of eight acres, with factory buildings, and had also promised to take up shares if a company were formed. Mr Drake had offered his factory as a going concern for £ISOO, which, he adnu'tted, was a very tempting offer. The question was which was tihe cheaper factory to acquire ? The Chairman considered the first matter to deal with was the formation of a company. The site for the works could :be fixed later. Mr Rickard asked if Mr Morris were speaking for the other delegates. Mr Andrews said he favoured the acceptance of Mr McAUum's offer on account of the cheapness of working by water power. At Fitzroy the fuel cost £S) a week ; another £3 a week- would 'be needed to pay an engineer. Mr Drake- asked whether there was at Frankley, Road sufficient water power to run the factory. It was all , very well to Bay that there was plenty now, but what about summer ?

Mr Morris said 1 that sufficient wat er could be stored there. Mr Drako said that treatment of largo quantities of pigs required a larger supply of water than could he obtained at Frankley Road. Mr McAllum said that Mr Cooper, an expert, now at the Maogatoki dairy factory, had reported that it was possible to develop 16 h.p. at Oho Frankley Road factory even with the stream as at present, and threequarters of the water was running to waste.

Mr Andrews, another of the delegates, considered the site one of the best in Taranaki for water supply.

Mr Crockett stated that at Stratford the Patea river was insufficient for the Stratford company, and that was a very large stream. He gave Mr Chambers' statement that a 17 h.p. oil tufejine could, too'run for, 17 hours a day at 2s 6d per day.

I Mr McAllum was averse to the installation of an oil engine. The Moa Dairy Company had found out that oil was not so good or r>:> cheap as steam, and now had an oil engine for sale. Mr Harvey said ho was in favour of Mr McAllum's site, because, of the water power. Thu delegates had gone most carefully into the matter. Ho had received promises from settlers in his district to take up 110 five pound shares. ' Mr Crockett thougtrt the Waiwakaiho stream, near Mr Drake's factory, was the best for the water power.

Mr Morris said the question was, which was tho Jiest site? A voice : The Waiwakaiho.

Mr Humphries asked what was to be obtained at Frankley Road ? They knew what they were getting at Fitzroy. Mr McAllum ; You woro aaked to visit mine, and wouldn't.

Mr Humphries : That doesn't matter. Mr McAllum :Yefl It does ; you're [losing as a delegate.

Mr Humphries : I'm posing as a purchaser, you an a salesman. I want to know what I get for my money.

Mr Humphries raid that at Fitzroy they' got for 'their money a factory in good order, ready for work ; the business connection, an established- brand, and a good plant for £ISOO. They had no definite offer of the Prankley Road concern. The water power argument was not a great thing. Within six months there would be water power laid on to Fitzroy. Mr McAllum : You have to pay for that. Mr Humphries: And don't you havo to pay for yours ? Aren't you always repairing-? Tho corporation will give us a splendid regular power. Mr Humphries continued that brake's factory is worth £4500, and cost him £5500. Ho (the speaker) had an option over this property at £ISOO for one month. Mr Humphries stated that the co-operative factory had offered him 3Jd per lb for pork. Ho was not satisfied and had sent his pork to Jnglewood to bo cured, at a cost of a penny per pound. When returned In him ho had sold It at sixpence per pound. There must be money for farmers in a cooperative .bacon company. Mr Morris substantiated these figurea, Mr H. Okey said the meetingi was getting "no for'audcr," He was quite satisfied that the meriting was not (qualified to settle this matter. Tho two offers should be put in writing, and an expert appointed to go into tho matter. The first cost was not much to be consitleixxl ; tho working expenses were tho chief thing. There seemed to be too many interested parties at this meeting, lie moved that Messrs Drake and McAllum put their offers in writing, mid that experts ibe asked to report on the two businesses, whether to take one or the other, or whether it would not be bettor to build a fresh factory. In order to allow Messrs Humphries and J. McCullum to move that a Co-o|>crtttive Uacon and Fresh I'ork Supply Company bo formed in or near New Plymouth, Mr Okey's motion was held over..

Mr Humphries' motion was carried, and Mr Okcy's motion, seconded by Mr J. McCullum, was then pl ftcod(bofore the meeting. Again this was withdrawn, and the (following committee set up to investigate a nd report : Messrs it. Price (Egmont Village), 0. Street (Bell Block), C. Andrews (Okato), Harrett Honeyfield (Omata), T. Howe (Bell Block), Harvey (Pungiarehu) W. Linn (Ok a to), W. Gray (.Okato,), J. Foreman (Tikomngi), W. 11. Wright (Ifahotu), Alec Colson (Hgmont Houid) ; five to form a quorum. Messrs Drake and McAUun will be nsked to place in writing) the full dotails of thoir offers, and tho committee was empowered to ongaigo an uutsido expert to report, Uie expert to bo asked to place his report and recommendations in vritiing. The meeting then adjourned, and a meeting of the committee was held: Air Price was appointed chairman, and Mr St«ples secretary to the committee. It was decided to ask Mr Orlfcll (of Messrs Orbell and Mackay. Inglewood) to report on tho suitability of the sites, and Mr 1). Moroney, Rahotu (formerly manager of the Stratford bacon factory) to report on the plant. The committee then adjourned, it l>\*ng understood that the next meeting will be 'held as soon as) convenient after the oxperts' reports are received.