FREEZING INDUSTRY.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 33, 29 June 1914, Page 5

FREEZING INDUSTRY.

CREAT SUCCESS OF WAIKCAWA WORKS.

TOPPED THE MARKET FOR LAMB.

By Telograph—Press Association. Pongaroa, Last Night,

The Akitio river-mouth traffic bridge was opened on Saturday by, Mr. Escott, M.P., in the prcesnee of a large number of settlers. Mrs. Armstrong, senr., cut the ribbon with a pair of gold scissors presented by the contractor, Mr. K. McKenzin. The bridge being the means of linking up the district, the ceremony was an important one in the history of tin; East Coast district.

Mr. Cooper, manager of the Waingawa Freezing Works, addressed those present, lie stated that it would cost about £50,000 to establish freezing works at Akitio to ( cope with an output of 1000 carcases per day. He also stated that the board of directors of the Waingawa works had not omeially considered the question of erecting branch works at Akitio, but the settlers could rest assured that they would receive the support of the company and directors. The cost of the new additions at the Waingawa works had been borne by the prpfits of tho company, which he thought remarkably gooil. The. value of the Waingawa works was now £IOO,OOO. Mr. Cooper said that Akitio wds one of the finest fattening districts in Now Zealand. The most profitable part of the industry "was the frozen, lamb trade. With the exception of the Old Country, no other could compete with New /eftland V» frozen lamb trade. This company last season obtained highest prices on the London market for lamb, realising 7%d per lb, being a halfpenny per lb above any other company. That alone would explode the idea thai the North Island could not compete with Canterbury. ,At present the distance of driving was too great for fat lambs to be got to Waingawa from Pongaroa. ' a strong committee was formed to 1 canvass the district and further the freezing works project.