PUKEUTtI MEAT WORKS.

Press, Volume L, Issue 14909, 6 March 1914, Page 9

PUKEUTtI MEAT WORKS.

OFFICIAL OPENING CEREMONY

A SUCCESSFUL GATHERING

(BT O-R S--Cl\_ RE-OUTER.)

Tlio official opening and public inspection of the Christchurch Meat Company's new freezing works at Pukcuri Junction, six miles north of •Oamaru, took placo yesterday. Fully a thousand farmers, with a fair proportion of women, gathered at the Works in response t.o the invitation of tho Company, and before the big public luncheon was held, those of tho visitors who wero early on the ground made an inspection of tho Works,"- which havo already been fully described in '"'Tho Press." The express train from Christchurch was very well patronised by a northern contingent, who were carried back on the return journey by a special train chartered for the occasion by tho Meat Company, who did nothing by halves on this important day. As soon as all the arrivals had gathered at the Works, luncheon, served in ono of the great freezing store rooms, wa.s announced. Tho chair was taken by Mr H. A. Knight, chairman of directors, and thero wero present with him, among others, the Hon. W. Fraser (Minister of Pubiic Works), Messrs \V. Murray (manager of the Company), T. Teschomaker, tho Hon. 11. F. Wigram. M.L.C, J. Roberts, C.M.G., and G. Harper (directors of the Company), J. H. Estill (Commercial Superintendent of the Port of London Authority), W. Frith (Mayor of Oamaru), V. Smith. M.P., G. Livingstone (chairman of the Waitaki County Council), W. Gardine-, A. Kayo. R. 11 ill-Fisher, W. A. Mcore, C. AY. "leid. C. F. Thomas, 0. li. Builock, G. Butcher, J. Grieg, H. J. Boswick, R. H. Rhodes. J. Williams, T. Y. Duncan, A. Anderson. J. Mill. D. Borrie, XV. Panton. K. Hall, J. Withell, J. Macpherson, and J. Hay. THE SPEECHICS. The chairman. (Mr H. A. KnightV after the toast of "The King" had been honoured, read an apology from the lit. Hon. XV. F. Massey, who said that the pressure of public business orccluded him from having the pleasure of attending the function. Mr Knight welcomed all those present to the opening of the new works at Pukeuri, on behalf of the Company, and especial'y montioned the Hon. XV. Fraser, Minister of Public Works, who represented tho Government at the gathering. The;e was no political significance attached to tho presence of the Hon. W. Eraser there that afternoon, but ho would no doubt be glad to have the opportunity of inspecting an up-to-date freezing works. The Christchurch Meat Company's policy was to have everything of the best, and he could tell them that thero wero no bettor works of their sizo in the Dominion than the Pukeuri "Works, which showed the confidence th<>. Company had in the North Otago district and its residents. Mr Knight extended a very hearty invitation to all farmers and others who might be interested, to visit the works at any time, and concluded by proposing the'health ol the Hon. W. Fraser, which was drunk with musical honours. On rising, Mr Fraser was greeted with oud applause. He could understand, ho said, what an important occasion it was to the people of a district such as Uamaru to meet together and take part m the opening of such fine works as those at Pukeuri. Ho could amplify -Mr Massey s telegram, and say from his own knowledge how disappointed the 1 rime Minister was at not being able to bother© that day. His visit had no pphtioal significance, as the chairman had said, but he would like to take tlio opportunity of telling them thatthe Prime Minister and the Government generally were fully in sympathy with tho aims and objects .of tho farming community in particular, and the progress of the Dominion as a whole. However, the Government wero not in power to help one class of the community only but to do justice to all, and every thinking man would agree that that was the correct and proper attitude to take up. As Minister of Public XX orks he tried to do his best tor all classes with the financial means at his disnoeal, but he felt that he had to say "No ' rometimos, however much it went against tho grain. The Min:ster concluded by wishing good luck and prosperity to all who wero connected with tho Pukeuri works and the great freezing industry. Mr XV. Gardiner, of Papakaio, proposed the toast of "The Frozen Meat Industry." He pointed out how the industry had benefited the farmers, and, speaking in a reminiscent strain, ho drew a sharp contrast between tho low price of sheep in the eighties as compared with the prices at the prosed day. He made particular mention of the late Messrs J. Brydono and J. Reid, tho pioneers of "the industry, whom he considered had left a legacy of prosperity to tho farmers and the Dominion of New Zealand. The speaker said he had, no doubt there were many good men ready to tako up the work in tho future as thero had boon in ttie past, and he concluded with coupling the. names of Messrs J. Roberts, C.M.G., and T. Teschem&ker with the toast. r Mr J. Roberts, C.M.G., in responding, said ho had been called upon to take a somewhat prominent pare in the frozen meat industry. He gavo an interesting precis of tho genesis and growth oi" the industry in tno Dominion, and elsewhere, starting with tho lato Mr T. S. Mort's efforts in Australia, and passing on to the shipments by the- Duneuin and tho Mata..ra, and from theso to the present day's huge operations. He trusted the sheep-owners in the Oamaru district would appreciate tho fine facilities they had, and give tho Company a fair measure of support. Mr Tcschemaker spoke briefly, jocularly complaining that Mr Roberts's facts and figure* had rather taken the wind out of his sails. He drew a graphic picture of the bad times tho sheep-owners had experienced in tho oh" days, when sound ewes went at sixpence a head, and sincerely hoped that in tho future prices would keep up and all things bo at their present prosperous level. , Mr G. Livingstone, chairman of the Waitaki County Council, aud Mr W. Frith, Mayor of Oamaru, wero entrusted with tho proposing of the toast of 'The Christchurch Meat Comparand the success of the Pukeuri Works." Very eulogistic references wero mado ti the pushfulness and resource of tho Christchurch Meat Company, which •had gone ahead at a great rate, and more than trebled its business in a comparatively short time. Mr H. A. Rnight responded to the ioast, and said that if the good feeling expressed there that day was a true indication of the opinion of th© district, he thought that the Company would soon have to enlarge its works to cope with the North Otago demands. At any rate, the Company had done its share, and it looked forward to tho whole-hearted support of tho sheepfarmers of the district. He thought that though the prico of land was high now. yet with the spread of agricultural education tho limit of its productivity was by no means reached. It haft been said that sheep-raising was going to be the order of the day, and as a director of a frozen meat com-' pany ho hoped that it would be so, but he pointed out that the New Zealand farmers would have to pay greater attention to conserving their pastures

in th_» future. He thanked them for the cordial welcome they had given to the efforts of tho Company. Mr W*. Murray, manager of the Christchuroh Meat Company, proposed tho healths of Me_>rs Panton and Hull, tho architect and contractor respectively of the Works, in a happy speech in which he paid a deserved compliment to the excellent work don© by those resnonsible for the design and construction of the great range of buildings. Tho responses by tho gentlemen referred to concluded the toast list, and then the visitors .catered to mako a more extensive inspection of the new premise., where it is expected that stock will bo taken in shortly after March 12th.

The weather, which had been very fine for the function in tbe morning, turned to _ sou-west rain' later, but the shower was not able to mar the effect of a thoroughly successful function.