THE FREEZING WORKS SCHEME.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 3073, 18 December 1908, Page 7

THE FREEZING WORKS SCHEME.

(Contributed by Rustic).

Some years ago, through the medium of the Wairarapa Age, I placed , before the farming community the value of establishing freezing works adjacent to Masterton. From various sources I learned that iny views on this important question were premature, the facilities offered by both the Gear and Export Companies for -our freezing requirements being «quite sufficient for present wants. Time went on: again the freezing works scheme was mooted and once more shelved. The meeting of sheepfarmers held at Masterton on Bth ...November to discuss the feasibility •of erecting local freezing works shows the fact that the sheep-farm-ing community have not lost sight of this important project, and it may see something tangible - done. The success which has attended the oper- . ,ations of the Canterbury Meat Company gives one an indication of what • can be done. Since the inception of these works many an uphill battle has been fought and won in the face of low prices. The destruction ■of part of the works by fire was another 'heavy item that had to be met by the Company. The success •achieved by the Company shows "what a shrewd practical body of farmers can accomplish by standing shoulder to shoulder until ultimately they attain success. In connection with these works I may mention the name of the late Mr John Grigg, of Longbeach, #hose magnificent worK while chairman of directors cannot be over estimated. The Company employed no buyers to secure sheep or Jambs for freezing. They were prepared tc take over at the works all fats at so much per should the farmers wish in preference to sending their stock to the Eome market. Each consignor had ~the right to have a special brand or number on his fat stock wi'apper. -All sheep and lambs sent to the works were practically drafted by ths farmers or their shepherds, and usually driven to the works. A large of freezing stock came forward as well, sent in by buyers for private firms who operated chiefly at Addington and other outside saleyards, where invariably there was a fair yarding of freezers. At the Canterbury Meat Company works all fats after being tallied by the man in charge foe ci l'.very wcr,-' thsn kandk tl ■in the yards by nn expert before Slaughtering, and any lambs or sheep not coming up to the standard were irtjecUd, marked and put aside in the Company's paddocks, which were always well provided with feed. The ■woik of checking the lata, that came to the works was rcslly in the ;n----terests of farmers, for it gradually educated them to the correct drafting mg£ their fatr, ai:d as time W(.nt on .farmers by getting a thorough practical insight info the drafting business, became quite proficient. At the :freezing works all by-proc'ucts received the utianst attention. What •was not "worked up" came back to the farm in the shape of®manure. The advantages cf establishing freezing 'works -locally are tr.ar.if'est. The curtailment of long drives and knocking about which freezing stock are subjected to would be greatly minimised, and the bruises which trucking jl3 responsible for •- ould be done away with. Ample paddocking is essential to the auccessful working of ; freezing works. Sheep cannot always be slaughtered at once ard a "freshing up~" after a long dry drive "with p*ddouk accommodation helps > to-preserve -the bloom on the car'casea.'Strorig combination is essential to the successful establishing of -freezing works in any districtfarmers as a rule are apt to work in a groove of their own; but in the case of freezing works farmers must work together. The centralising of our stock sales if freezing wo; 9 ■were erected would naturally follow, .and would be in the best interests of -the stock agents and their clients. A fat market would he established, • anj a field opened up for competition •in the freezing trade-on similar lines :to those at Addington. There is not the slightest doubt that but this >scheme is a "big l order" but it is not ■beyond the -reach of the farming —if 'they only put their ;shoulder to the wheel.