PAHIATUA NEWS.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 3167, 19 April 1909, Page 6

PAHIATUA NEWS.

(From Our Resident Reporter). Saturday. PAHIATUA FARMERS' UNION. The annual meeting of the Pahiatua Branch of the New Zealand Farmers' Union was held in the Commercial Hotel, this afternoon, Mr Quirk presiding. The Chairman referred briefly to the work of the Union during the. past year, and stated that several of the resolutions passed by the Union had had a beneficial result, especially with regard to the Shearers' Accommodation Bill and the dairy regulations. He had also noticed that some of the motions had been printed in the leading papers of the Dominion. He made reference to the Union holding a picnic or social gathering during fhe coming year, which he hoped would eventuate, as it would bring the various members into closer touch with each other. Mr Quirk thanked the members of the Executive, the Press and especially Mr J. C. Cooper, who had the business of the different Unions at his finger ends, and had always given the speaker advice on any subject relative to the Union. He also spoke in Mattering terms of the work of the Secretary of the Branch, tli L:<ntle man having, said Mr Quirk, assisted considerably in placing the Branch in its present satisfactory position. Ths balance sheet showed receipts for the year ,to have been £39 3s 6a, and the expenditure £26 14s. The following were elected an Executive Committee: —Messrs J. C. Cooper, T. Quirk, A. McFarlane, J. Brechin, J. Manson U. Avery, A. Ross, M. Caselberg, T. Hodgins, Matthews, R. C. Ellingham, T. Neilson and Captain Whyte. Mr Quirk then vacated the chair, and Mr McFarlane, in proposing Mr J. C. Cooper as President, said that no one was better qualified for the position. Mr' Quirk, in seconding the motion, heartily endorsed Mr McFarlarie's remarks. The motion was carried. Other officers were elected as 'tol-lowsVice-President, Mr T. Quirk; Auditor, Mr M. Caselberg Secretary and Treasurer. Mr J. A. Walsh (reelected). Mr Quirk was appointed delegate to the Provincial Conference to be to be held at'Eketahuna on May 25th. Considerable discussion ensued as to what the subscription for the forthcoming year should be, and it was finally decided to make it the same as last year. It was resolved to hold a meeting on May Ist to discuss any questions proposed to be remitted to the »onference at Eketahuna from this Union.

PROPOSED FREEZING WOKKS

After the meeting of the Farmers' ' Union to-day, Mr Cooper addressed those present on the subject of the proposed cooperative freezing works. The speaker handled the subject in a very able manner, and stated that the prospectus of the company was not; yet quite ready. He contended that during the past season the freezing companies had not been able to cope with the fat stock trade. Thousands of sheep were at present on the farmers' hands, which should have been on their way to the London market, and the cash for them should be in the hands of the farmers. This would help to account for the present stringency of the money market. The surplus stock would have to be parried over the winter, and it would be found that the sheep would be of no greater value. A certain amount would be derived from the wool, but it did not pay at the present pries of land to keep sheep for the value'of the wool alone. Many farmers had gone in for black faced sheep on account of their fattening propensities, and he believed 250,000 more sheep could have been disposed off. This was why the present freezing works had been proposed, and the district over which the operations of the company would spread represented about six million sheep, which equalled about a third of the sheep in the South Island. Past experience would show that it was the farming community who had really increased the asset of the private companies, and they had in many cases not received the value they should have for their stock. As the farmers were the wealth producers they should handle more of the money. He considered the frozen meat business dhould be run in t'le same way as the co-operative dairy companies.. Frozen meat had

now an assured position on the Home market, and one-third of- the meat consumed in England was frozen meat. It was proposed to run on the lints of the successful companies, and Mr Cooper stated ,he had received an estimate trom competent authority that £50,000 would provide an up-to-date plant that would be capable of dealing with 2,400 sheep daily. It would be their aim to make the calls as light as possible, and it would not be wise to borrow any money in excess of the uncalled capital of the company. Shares would be offered to the farmers on the basis of their flocks, and the farmer wh" guaranteed his stock to the company would receive the 'first consideration. Mr Cooper went very extensively into the matters in connection with the Uisborne farmers' freezing works, which he stated had more than paid for itself in five years. They intended to follow jon the lines of this company, and he | considered the farmers in this disj trict should have better results, as ! the district was more adapted for ! fattening purposes, j In reply to a question, the speaker j stated that the provisional directors j would proceed to float the company I when 2,000 shares had been applied i ±or. Mr Cooper also stated that he i had received letters from other disI tricts interested in th°. scheme, stating that the matter was receiving good support from the farmers, j A hearty vote of thanks was acj corded to Mr Cooper for his able ' address. ,