THE WELLINGTON FARMERS' FREEZING WORKS.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 9589, 8 September 1909, Page 5

THE WELLINGTON FARMERS' FREEZING WORKS.

(To the Editor). Sir,—During my absence I have observed two letters in reply vo mine of the 23rd of August. If it will hot be trespassing too much on the space which you so generously supply, I will reply to the game fighter "Resident" to-morrow. With regard to" "Farmer, "Opaki (August 25th), I beg to reply as follows: —If I plead for the Waingawa site it is not as he suggests for the benefit of Masterton, but purely on behalf of the interests of the Company. "Farmer" is certainly cunning in recommending the Wellington site, and endeavouring to persuade the "uew Company'" to make the same mistake as the former companies have done by building at the seaport instead of close to the supplies, which my former letter of the 17th inst. clearly pointed out. He also repeats the usual growl by asking, for what is another meat company wanted, and says our able member (Mr W. C. Buchanan) has counselled caution. Sir, I beg to ask if Mr Kuchanan advised the farmers to be cautious when he was promoting the Wellington Meat Export Company some years ago. No, Sir, Mr .Buchanan (agitated) and worried the farmers night ind day; in fact, he gave them no peace until the company was floated. With the stride of late that sheepbreeding has taken there is a much better opening for three companies to-day than there was for two, when Mr Buchanan was agitating for the Meat Export. Hence his note of warning and hie kind interest in his fellow farmers. One reason why the new company has bee r floated and the shares so readily taken up, is that the farmers have frund out that by supplying the present companies year by year, they are building up for them enormous reserve funds as well as paying big divuienis to shareholders, while on the other hand they are not paying the mortgages off their own farms, as th3y would have done if they had been supplyine a co-operative company. Sir. if Opaki "Farmer" wishes to oppose the new company, why does he not come forward w th an open fight and not growl under a cloak of disguise. He reminds me of the hyena which lives upon the farmerhis best sheep at that, in fact he disregards'many as too fat, and when the farmer hunts him, he in return sits down on his tail ard snarls; but, Sir, the cloak is totK thir., and when the shareholders decide the site on the 10th, I feel sure that Mr Opaki "Farmer" himself will be discarded, Sir, in thanking you for space, . 1 am etc., OBSERVER. Masterton, September 7th, 1909.

(To the Editor). Sir,—During the past week or two, the Wairarapa papers have bean giving a good deal of space to the question of a site for the works of the new Meat Company. Unfortunately, the chief agitation for one site as against some other hai come from the people of the different townships; the welfare of the company evidently being of secondary consideration. Although one of the promoters of the Cojnpany, I was by no means so enthusiastic ot success as some of the others; by reason of the fact that I knew of many difficulties ahead, one at least which in niy opinion was almost unsurmountable. Some of the difficulties have in a measure been got over, although a very much larger number of farmer shareholders is yet required to ensure anything like success. But one (the chief) difficulty yet remains, and on the site decision hinges to a great extent the fate of the company. it was in the minds of the promoters and most of the shares taken in the Featherston district was on the assumption that the works would be at Wellington or at a point on the railway route to Wellington, best suited to secure the greatest number of sheep. For the farmers of Pahiatua or Eketahuna works in either of those districts would be the most suitable. But would it suit Masterton? Yet in my opinion it would be just as reasonable to expect farmers to send sheep from Masterton to, say, Eketahuna, as it would be for farmers to send sheep from Featherston to Masterton. I have no expert knowledge of any of the sites spoken of, but if it is decided that sites on the Wellington side of the Riinutaka are unsuitable, then 1 think the furthest south sita on the Wairarapa 'side is the one which should be selected, provided always that there is not something in the water supply or tlie like which renders it unsuitable. My reasons for fixing upon the Pieeon Bush locality as the n.ost suitable is, firstly, that all meat (dead or alive) for exportation, must, if having its origin south of Pahiatua, pass through Pigeon Bush to its port of shipment, My second i and only other reason for favouring Pigeon B-ish, is that for the thi'i-sion stock lo go first north to be -killed and then south to Wellington for export would mean extra cost; consequently the company ! would be competing at a disadvantage i in the Featoerskj.i t.idtrict with the ! companies already in existence. If ■ the works ace erected south of FeaI therston, then all companies will be on the same footing fas far as freight) in the handling of stock,

the natural outlet of which is via the Rimutaka. I am perfectly certain the sheep of the Featherston district will not go north to be killed, for the obvious l'eason that the Wellington companies can buy without that extra expense; and farmers, I take it, are not in the new company for amusement. What the noithern J shareholders will need to consider on the 10th is, firstly, can the company do without the Featherston district, which (if not the most important; is nevertheless, a large stock producing district, and, secondly is the few miles of railage /which will have to be paid in any case; of more importance to them than the hearty co-operation of the Featherston end. My contention is that the cohesion of the whole area over which shares have been sold is of vital importance of the success of the company, and if stock is moving continuously towards the ultimate destination, the expense cannot be so great, as on stock which would first be railed away from market to be killed, land then railed back to sell. I recently had occasion to discuss with many Masterton and further north gentlemen the question of their local bodies contributing towards the upkeep of the Rimutaka hill road, which is largely used for fat cattle transit. The answer was always the same, and was that Featherston sent away practically all the fat cattle that went from this side of the hill, and consequently Featherston County should maintain the road.—l am, 6tC ALEX. D. M'LEOD. Hinakura, September 6th, 1909.