NEW FREEZING WORKS.

Taranaki Daily News, 2 November 1915, Page 6

NEW FREEZING WORKS.

FIRST MEETING OF FARMERS' I MEAT CO. j THE DIRECTORS ELECTED. j The statutory meeting of tlie Taranaki Farmers' Meat Co., Ltd., was held at New Plymouth yesterday. Mr. J. T. Quia presided over a large attendance of shareholders. The statutory report, which has already been published, was adopted. The chairman gave a brief resume of what had been done by the company up to the present. The provisional directors had incurred liabilities amounting to £21,000 for the purchase of machinery. Orders had been placed in Great Britain for the machinery, which, it was hoped would come to hand in time for the establishment of the works by next season. The Imperial Government, however, now had a say in the question of machinery and shipping, and it was possible there would be unavoidable delays, but everything possible would be done to get the machinery here in good time. Tenders closed on Saturday for the erection of the buildings, and the tenders would come before the new directors, who would have to say whether they would accept a lender or erect the buildings by day work. Mr. Quin added that he had been asked to explain the policy of the company, but he wished to point out that he could not do this, as he was only a temporary director.

A GRIEVANCE. A shareholder asked how nv.v -i-arw which it was promised would be taken up had not heen taken up. The chairman said there were about 1000 shares which had not been taken up. ibut the company had 110pe.9 that the persons who had promised to take up these shares would do so shortly. A shareholder: I don't think those shareholders will make good. These prospective shareholders have never received any information beyond what they had read in the newspapers. I think it is the duty of the chairman to send out prospectuses and application forms. The secretary (Mr, Hugh Baily) replied that that had been done. The shareholder: Well, they were never received anvwhere.

QUESTION OF SHIPPING. Mr. D. J. Hughes asked if the. directors were pledged to consign through any particular shipping company. In view of the report that a Japanese shipping line proposed to extend its operations to New Zealand, he would like to know if any pledge had been given. Tlio chairman said that as he was only a temporary director he could not speak of what the directors would do, but personally he would favor the meat being sent to the cheapest and best market that could possibly be got. A shareholder: Would you bar none? The chairman: Oh, I'd bar a German.

THE DIRECTORS. It was decided that for the first year the number of directors should be twelve. The following fourteen gentlemen wore nominated:—Messrs John T. ftuin (Eltiiam), Michael Fleming (Pungarehii), A. Morton (Egmont Village), W. R. Wright (Rahotu), Newton King (New Plymouth), A. W. Budge (Stratford), J. W. 11. Martin (Pukearuhe), H. P. Best (Eltliam), W. A. McCutchan (Whangamomona), E. Marfell (Toko), A. B, Gamlin (Inglewood), C. F. Young (Tarilci), Wilfred Perry (New Plymouth) and P. A. 'Apensliaw (Lepperton).

The election resulted as follows: Messrs J. T. Quin ISo votes, N. King 185, W. A. MoCutchan 1 So, E. Marfell 184, A. Morton 182, 11. P. Best 174, A. W. Budge 172, M. Fleming 170, A. B. Gamlin 104, W. R. Wright IC3, C. F. Young 163, W. Perry 151, J. W. H. Martin 113, P. A. Openshaw 19. At a subsequent meeting of directors, Mr. Quin was elected chairman. Mr. E. P. Webster was elected auditor,

A MATERIAL MISTAKE. A shareholder pointed out that on the voting paper, the address of Mr. Martin was given as Stratford, whereas Mr. Martin came from Pukearuhe. There were probably many shareholders present who did not know many of the gentlemen nominated for the directorate, and had voted on a district representation basis. It was probable that, Mr. Martin lost many votes through this, since he was the candidate from north of Waitara. whereas there was another candidate, Mr. Budge, from Stratford, as well as one from Toko and two from Eltham. The secretary explained that the mistake was a printer's error. . NO TENDER ACCEPTED. At a meeting of directors, tenders for the erection of the buildings were considered. Four tenders were received, and the directors decided they could not accept any of these. What further action to provide the buildings will be taken has not yet been decided upon.