PRODUCERS' MEAT FREEZING WORKS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVI, Issue 270, 15 April 1914, Page 4

PRODUCERS' MEAT FREEZING WORKS.

That tho proposal to erect a fanners'owned freezing works has commended itself to the foremost producers and settiers in Taranaki was shown by the •lUeeessfitl and representative meeting held yesterday at Stratford. Every _ part of the province was represented. The delegates came not merely out of curiosity, hut evidently for the purpose of lending countenance and assistance to a movement that, means in the years to come many thousands more for the producers than they have been receiving in the past. The success of the butterfreezing works and of co-operative dairy factories has proved beyond all question that when the producers band themselves together for mutual benefit they do not fail in their object. At yesterday's meeting there was represented not only capital, but capital's equivalent, stock. Moreover, the attendance of several of the leading business men of tfie province, all of whom strongly supported the project, proves conclusively that as a financial proposition it is sound. There is another aspect of 'the question which wad not lost sight of at the meeting, and that is the loss \Vhieh farmers suffer when, after bringing their sheep and cattle up to the proper state of fitness for being killed and frozen, they have to face a refusal of tjieir stock by the freezing companies for some cause more or less justifiable. By establishing t'lie new works, the producers will not only receive the full return for their stock, but will be able to deal with it as it comes forward, and thus obviate the falling-off in condition that results from the animals not being killed when ready. The large profits made by the pvivately-owned works represent monyy that should go into the farmers' coffers, and this is one of the factors that operated with the farmers in unanimously affirming the principle tluit the time had arrived for starting producers' works. The question of site may cause some discussion, but there is great force in the suggestion that this matter should be decided on merit alone, and in the interests of the enterprise as a whale. This point must be left in abeyance for the present. All other cansiderations should be put aside, and the sole aim should be to join hands in bringing to fruition one of the most urgent requirements of our farmers. With the possession of their own ineatfreozing works, the harbor ready to take, tha direct ocean steamers, and with -i system of railways linking up' all parts of Taranaki, the farmers will find life worth living, and if they will only present a united front in the furtherance of their interests their day of full prosperity will shortly arrive. We heartily congratulate them on the successful out-come of yesterday's meeting, and trust that the project will in due course be "an accomplished fact, and that the farmers will reap the full benefit of their enterprising action.