A CLUTHA FARMERS' FREEZING AND PRODUCE CO.

Clutha Leader, Volume XX, Issue 1036, 8 June 1894, Page 5

A CLUTHA FARMERS' FREEZING AND PRODUCE CO.

A public meeting was held in M'Kenzie's Hall here on Wednesday afternoon to consider the advisability of establishing a Farmers' Freezing and Produce Company in the Clutha. Mr William Hay occupied the chair, and there was an unusually large attendance.the hall being fairly well filled with settlers from all the surrounding districts. The Chairman expressed his gratification at seeing such a large meeting which he regarded as an evidence of the interest taken by the farmers in the question to be submitted to them. He said it must also be highly gratifying to Mr Wilson, who had interested himself so much in the matter. He then proceeded to deliver the following address : — " The low prices ruling for grain this season, which farmers must recognise are not profitable, and .the necessity which in consequence has arisen for farmers turning their attention in the future more than they have done in the past to sheep and mixed farming, together with the desirability of farmers meeting one another for the interchange of ideas and to co-operate for their common good, decided us to call you together this afternoon to discuss the situation and any matters of interest, believing that good will result. In the first place we will call your attention to the different branches of the farming industry, which, we think, would, if once their importance were realised, materially increase the profits of farming, and tend to prevent those marked depressions in values which too often occur in farm produce by regulating the supply to the demand. If under the present system- where a farmer depends (as is too often the case) almost wholly on his grain crops, the prices are low, he feels the want of income, whereas under a system of mixed farming should one of the products rule low in price, another will in all probability be selling well aud make up for it. I Sheep, when properly managed, always return a fair remuneration, and although dull of -sale just now the daily increasing facilities for the shipment and sale of frozen meat in densely populated countries of Europe, and the prospect of the abolition of the duty on wool into America give promise of an early improvement in values. The golden foot of the sheep is proverbial, for while the feeding of sheep on the la,nd increases its fertility, grain-growing exhausts it, and necessitates a heavy expenditure for artificial manures in order to return to the soil what the grain crops have taken out. The dairying industry is also in a fairly prosperous state, and if we are careful to make butter and cheese of firstclass quality, and ship it so as to arrive Home in their winter — which can easily, be done as our summer is their winter, — we with our temperate climate and abundance of feed, should be more than able to hold our own in competition with the Australian colonies. There are, however, several branches of the farming industry which are almost neglected in this district, and which if gone into properly should well recompense farmers for their trouble and outlay. One of them is the growing and feeding of pigs. Already farmers are awakening to the fact that no animal on the farm returns a larger profit than the pig. Several shipments of frozen pork and bacon and hams have been sent Home with satisfactory results, and it only remains for farmers to turn their attention to this business to make it a large and profitable one. The demand for good bacon and hams is practically unlimited in the Old Country, and if shipped at the right time would sell readily and leave a good margin of profit to the grower. Poultry rearing and fattening is also worth attention. Poultry are only bought here by the storekeepers at low prices on the condition that the vendor takes out the value in goods, for owing to our limited population there is no local demand for any quantity, while in the Old Country an enormous quantity is imported from France and other countries. The following quotation of prices realised on shipments from Australia goes to show that we also can profitably send poultry home : — ' London, April 20, 1894. — The experiment of sending Home fowls and game from Australia has turned out well. The frozen chickens realised 3s 9d each, ducks 3s 9d to 3s Gd, wild duck Is 9d, rabbits Is 2d to 9d, These were brought by the Paramatta. Some by the Curco : Chickens fetched 4s and ducks 4s 9d. After the end of May English poultry is cheap, and no shipments from the Colony should reach London later than May, but bearing this in mind the industry is one which New Zealand might well take in hand.' You will also notice that the price quoted for rabbits seems to point to the fact that where they can be caught near the refrigerating Avorks they also should pay to freeze and ship. The fruit industry is one that has lately received great attention in the Western States of America and Canada. There they grow large quantities of apples, the best sorts of which are sent direct to market, while the inferior are dried and packed. The prune plum is also largely grown for bottling ; other sorts of fruits, such as pears, apricots, plums, and peaches, for canning, and raspberries, strawberries, etc., for making into jam. Now, many will say that the low prices given by the factories will not pay the grower, but when once an orchard has come into full, bearing, which it does in the course of a few years, the cost of pruning the trees and picking the fruit is not great, and the return would materially increase the income from the farm. The Government, recognizing the importance of this industry, have lately appointed a ' Pomologist ' fas he calls himself) to go round the country and instructlihe people how to grow fruit, but as farmers have not hitherto grown more than they required for their own consumption his efforts have not been appreciated. It would, we think, be a step in the right direction to urge upon the" Government to instruct Mr Lee Smith — whom they have lately appointed to represent this Colony at a conference to be held in Canada— to obtain all possible information on the subject, and arrange for a supply of the best kinds of fruit trees ; and that they should start a few nurseries in diffeient districts, superintended by experts who could give intending fruit growers advice as to the kinds of fruit best adapted to then- soil and climate, and supply them with the best sorts of trees at a figure that would make the nursery self-supporting. Now, in order to foster these different branches of the farming industry and provide a steady market, it has been thought that the time has arrived for the forming of a Farmers' Co-operative Company to deal, either by freezing or otherwise, with farmers' produce of all descriptions as follows : — 1. The erection in the first instance of small freezing works of the most approved modern type for the freezing of mutton, lamb, beef, pork, poultry, and rabbits. 2. The necessary plant for converting pork either into pickled pork or bacon and hams, 3. The erection, should it be considered desirable, of factories or creameries for the making of cheese, butter, or preserved milk. 4. The purchasing and shipping the same for sale on behalf of the company, or on owner's behalf, to the best markets, These then w*Q

the lines on which it is proposed to float the company, and it is believed by the promoters to be a step in the right direction, and well worth the earnest attention of farmers and others resident in the Clutha and surrounding districts. It is proposed to call the company " The Clutha Farmers' Freezing and Produce Co., Limited," with a capital of, say L20.000 in LI shares, of which it is only proposed to call up a sum sufficient at present to erect small freezing works of the most approved modern type, together with the necessary slaughtering yards, and that the plan of the works be drawn so that they can be added to as the company's operations demand extension. The advantages that will accrue . to farmers by having a steady market for their produce in their own district are manifold, but time will not permit us to enumerate them all here. Among them, however, we might mention : 1. That farmers could deliver their sheep at the company's works in large or small numbers as they became prime, see them weighed, and either dispose of them to the company or have them forwarded for sale to any agent they choose. 2. That the risk, loss of weight, and. cost of carriage of live Btock to distant freezing works would almost entirely be saved, as the cost of carriage of frozen meat from Balclutha to the ship side at Port Chalmers would only, be slightly in excess of that from the Burnside works to Port Chalmers, and much handling would be' saved. 3. That a factory for the curing of pork either by pickling or into bacon and / hams would ensure a steady -market-.- for any quantity' of pigs. The Clutha is peculiarly adapted for I the operations of a company formed on above- j mentioned lines. It is the centre of a large aud rich agricultural district, and under a j directorate of practical farmers the promoters have every confidence that it will materially assist farmers and prove a great success. The material foi the building of works can be cheaply obtained in the shape of gravel for making concrete, than which no better material can be got. In conclusion we would ask you to freely express your opinions, and if you think the , formation of tbe company desirable, would' urge upon all present to unite together to float the company and make it a success." The chairman also read correspondence from Messrs Nichol Bros. Invercargill, and Messrs W. Cable and Co., Wellington, as to the cost of freezing works and plant, and also read a newspaper extract as to a Wellington invention called the " M'Gill Composed Air Machine," whioh is repsesented as likely to cause a revolution in refrigerating processes, the new machine effecting a great saving in steam, being simpler in action and requiring oniy.a small first cost as compared with the other freezing machines in the market. The chairman then invited those present to express their ppinions on the question he had submitted for their consideration. Mr J. C. Anderson said he was thoroughly in sympathy with the object aimed at. When people found their affiairs in a state of collapse that was the time for them to bestir themselves and bring about a remedy. To start such a company as that proposed need rot eniail a heavy outlay on any one individual. By every one doing a little according to his .ability the object could easily be attained. He referred to what had b^en done in this way in the establishing of dairy factories. He believed there were 500 farmers within a suitable area, and if these were all to give a little and heartily support the scheme it would be an undoubted success. He pointed to the necessity of having such a company managed by a directorate chosen by farmers instead of being controlled froiii Dunedin, referring to the management of the Dunedin Refrigerating Works as an example of what they might expect if Dunedin influence were allowed to rule the company. If such a company as that aimed at were established in the Clutha they could do away with middlemen, and the money they earned would remain in the pockets of the farmers. He thought their efforts should only be on a modest scale to start with, and the thing would grow with the growing necessities. Although they were to decide that evening in favour of establishing the works tbe preliminary arrangements would occupy a considerable time and they would not be likely to be called on for much money before six months at least. He thought there was a great fortune in the fruit industry, and mentioned that already in Tasmania nearly half the small farmers lived by fruit. An impression he said had got up that this company was being got up in order to take over the business of Messrs Wilson Cameron and Co., but for this there was not the slightest foundation. Mr Walter Miller expressed his conviction that the step -being taken was in the right direction. It was high time that the farmers should put forth an effort to control the business connected with their own industry. The Dunedin Refrigerating Works were a monopoly and farmers should co-operate in their own interests. Mr J. W. Wilson referred at length to some of the most important points dealt with in the chairman's address, expressing his conviction that the establishment of such a company as ■ that contemplated would in many ways prove advantageous to those engaged in the agricultural industry. He also gave explanations regarding the formation of such a company, the capital required, buildings, machinery, etc. He pointed ont that in a short time at least 100 people would find employment in connection with the various operations that would be undertaken by the company. When once slaughtering was carried on here, the cir cases being stored in a chilled' chamber, the Dunedin butchers would at once arrange for regular supplies of meat from the works. In this way a large and profitable business would speedily be established. Regarding the rumour referred to by Mr Anderson as to the business of Wilson Cameron and Co., he assured them there was nothing whatever in it. He did not know the operation of the proposed company would .benefit him in any way beyond the benefit the whole community would derive from the agricultural interest being placed on a more secure and prosperous basis. In this prosperity he hoped to share in common with the general community. Beyond this he expected nothing. Mr T. Mackenzie, M.H.R.,said Mr Wifson had rendered good service in bringing this matter prominently before the farmers and he 'had no doubt the project would prove a success if the necessary shares were taken up and if the company were placed under efficient management. He referred to the sugar industry as one that might be profitably undertaken but he thought the difficulty would be in raising the necessary capital aud this not so much because of the scarcity of money but because of the pernicious labour legislation of the present Government as no one could calculate the rates of wages that they might at any time be called on to pay. With such fears and uncertainties as now existed no one cared for embarking in new industries. He believed, however, the proposed new company would prove a success if once established on a proper basis and he would be glad to take a few shares in it. After some further remarks from Mr Fyfe (Waiwera) who expressed himself in favour of the object, and from a number of others present several suggestions were made as to future proceedings. Ultimately '-Mr John j M'Neil moved to the effect that this meeting j is in entire sympathy .with the object in new ; that Mr Wilson be thanked for the interest he has taken, in the matter; that the

provisional directors bo asked to obtain all information as to capital required, cost of buildings, plant, etc. also to the prospetcs of success and to submit the same at a future meeting. Mr J. C. Anderson seconded the motion which was carried and the usual compliment to the chair brought the proceedings to a close.