COLD STORAGE.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16288, 12 August 1918, Page 6

COLD STORAGE.

FARMERS DISCUSS POSITION

RELIEF PROMISED.

I SPECIAL TO "THK PRESS.")

TIMARU, Angnst 10,

A further meeting of farmers and pastoralists to consider what should bo done to meet the difficulty in connexion with tho shortage of -cold storage spaoo as a result of the Jack of shipping, was held in Timaru to-day. Air John Tal-

bot presided, and there was an attendance representative of all parts of South Canterbury.

Mr Mcehan said that Mr E. C. Stud, holme and he tad gono to Christchurch whero they had interviewed the New Zealand Refrigerating Company. The company was averse to building any more stores, as store? -vould not prove the solution of the difficulty; tho meat would have to be moved sooner or later. They therefore considered jt bettor to do their best to obtain more shipping, and with this end in view they had sin.e been communicating with London. Tho Canterbury Frozen Meat Company had stated that they had waterial with which they could provide additional accommodation at Paroora, and had agreed to do so on certain conditions. A sum of £15,000 would require to bo deposited with tho company by the end of August, the allotment of space in tho store to bo in proportion to the contributors subscriptions, the ■latter to be in tho name of sneepbreeders, the contributors to have the right to tho space in the store for their stock for the period of the war and twelve months after, after this tho store became tho property of the company without payme'nt of any kind. Mr Meehan added that they had that morning received an agreeable surpris* £n tho form of a letter from the rflesA Zealand Refrigerating Company, who had come to the rescue in a very liberal manner. The company had written that since discussing Ine matter with Messnr Stoclholiuo and Meehan they .had given it their fullest consideration, and had now decided to make an addition at Sniitiiliflld to the fullest extent which their reserve stock of piping would permit. This addition would be capable of storing at least 100,000 freight carcascs. Instructions had boon given for plans to be prepared, and the building would be proceeded with at tho earliest possible moment. They had decided to attach no special conditions ta this offer, and both factories would be conducted on their usual free trade lines. When the coming season was closer at hand, they would be better able to judge as to -whether it wtouldj be possible for the existing freezing charge to be continued throughout tho South Island without some increase, but they would give ivn assurance that their South Canterbury supporters would not in any way be penalised on account of the necessity for this farther expenditure, and their operations at Smithfield and Pukeuri would be conducted on whatever. terms might be current for next season at their various other factories.

Mr Meehan moved that the New land Refrigerating Company be thanked for its offer.

The motion, was seconded fey Mr C. N. Orl>el!, and carried unanimously , The chairman said that the other company would no doubt do something on similar lines, and farmers would now he able to face the coming season with more confidence.

Mr Studholme said it was only fair to the Canterbury Meat Company to sny thai, it. was tne first company approached, and those who had waited on it had been feeling their way to ascertain the best they could hope for. He had no doubt but that thip company would uo as wull for them asthe other one. He moved: "That in view of Iho New Zealand Refrigerating Company's declared intention to at once proceed to ->rest storage accommodation for 100,000 freight carcases, this meeting trusts that the Canterbury Frozen Meat Company will further consider the matter."

Mr Hugh Lowry seconded the mption, which was carried unanimously. Mr J. Anstey, M.P„ said that th«y liad met ivith a piece of good luok ifl getting this promise of additional storage accommodation, but it most not ho forgotten that the meat would have to be got away sooner or later. His own. idea was tliat ships would be available before very long. Tho Americans wei® sending men over to Franco at the rat® of 300,000 a month, and this must have diverted at least 500 ships. It would not I>p no-jcssai'v to continue this indefinitely ; it must case up before the Homv winter came on, when some of tho shins would have to go in search, of food to f«ed the armies. The food could not be got in tho northern hemisphere, «o it followed that the ships would have to come to the sonthera hemisphere, and a good many of them oould bo diverted heie. They should ask ns emphatically as' possible to have more ships sent to New Zealand, and ho believed their request would bo met. Mr Anstcy then proposed: "That the chairman be requested to telegraph If the Minister of Agriculture asking him to redouble his efforts to procure shipping to relieve the serious position here owinw t;» the congestion of frozen men* now in store, and the imperative requirements of the forthcoming season." The 'notion was carried unanimously.

Mr J. Connelly moved: "That this meeting of meat producers views witli approval the efforts of the New Zealand Government .to extend the contract with the Imperial Government for the purchase of our frozen meat, and hopes that the negotiations will be completed in a manner which will prove beneficial to the Imperial Government, but is of opinion that the period of the contract enould be for one year after the termination of tho war."

The motion was carriod unanimously. It having been stated that it was the intention not to send » Home shii» to any but the four main ports of Sew Zealand, r, motion was parsed, on the suggestion of >Jr Talbot, M.P., pointing _ out the unfairness of this, ar.d urging the Overseas Shipping Committee to send ships to Tirnnru to lift South Canterbury produce.