CO-OPERATIVE FREEZING COMPANY.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 479, 12 April 1909, Page 2

CO-OPERATIVE FREEZING COMPANY.

WOODVILLE CONFERENCE APPROVES. DIRECTORS APPOINTED. At tho Woodvillo conference of delegates held last Wednesday to discuss' tho project of establishing co-oporativo freezing works ftJr Wellington provinco and adjoining districts, Mr. J. C. Cooper, Pahiatua, presided,' and thero wero also present—Messrs. F. W. Kuinmcr, Mauriceyille; W. L. Falconer, Kaituna : J. lialsillie, Palmerston; J. Wingate, Palmerston; W. Brown, Waitahora: Groves, To Nui; J. P. Loinax, Eketalnina; O. M'llroy,_ Feilding; 11. Booth, Fcildiug; K. M'Keiizie, Masterton; D. M'Donald, Waitahora; and Robinson, Pongaroa. The chairman submitted for inspection . estimates and sketch plans of freezing works of different capacities, and stated that an offer of a freo sito from tlio Foxton Harbour Board had been received. Tho proprietors of the Woodvillo Freezing Works were also wishing to sell their structure. Ho had met tho Manawatu farmers at Palmerston, as requested, and although the meeting there was not very enthusiastic, lie believed that was more because of the snort notice they bad received than of any antagonism to tho work. Mr. Balsillio said ho thought the Manawatu farmers bad not yet forgotten tho Lougburn Freezing Works. Nevertheless, there wore somo enthusiastic men there. Farmers seemed to be a hard body of men to unite, and if there was not'some sort of bond entered into by shareholders compelling tlifm to sell always to their own company it vould bo useless to start, because other companies would como along and offer a little moro for stoik'aud tako all tho stuff away. Ho considered thero was amplo room for another freezing works, but money was scarco. A good deal of support would bo given tlio project on tlio West Coast, but the question of site was tho most important that would havo to bo'faced. Ijo most decidedly objected to inland towns. Tho feeling in tho Manawatu was entirely for a seaboard sito. Mr. Booth (Feilding) said that, like tho Manawatu fanners, the Feilding men were still suffering from tho effects of a previous venture. However, somo of them would tako up shares, and if tlio sito wero fixed they could consider the mattor. There should bo something binding on farmers to compel them to sell only to their own company. Mr. D. M'Donald (Waitahora) expressed somewhat similar views, and said the stock this year had not been absorbed as it should bo by tho companies. Sir. Wingato (Palmerston) said thero wero hundreds and thousands of pounds being frittered away into the pockets of speculators and middleman which ought to go to the farmers. Mr. M'llroy (Feilding) said his district considered tho works should bo at Foxton, as railago to Wellington would ho too expensive. Tho chairman said thero appeared to bo two ihings that tlio West Coast delegates over. Ono was Longuurn, which had not been purely a farmers' concern; and was started when tho frozen meat industry was not what is was now. Wellington province dealt with 'one-third of tlio Dominion's stock, and tho existing companies appeared unable to cope wjth it. Ho believed tho farmers would succeed as well as thoso of Gisborno and Canterbury had done. Tho other difficult question lvas that of tlio sito. Wairarapa, which had no pet harbour, was nevertheless'in favour of a seaboard scheme. Thoso elected to inanago tho concern should remember they had powerful companies to fight, - and should, confine their liabilitos to : the! s_copo"'o£. their-capital. -At least 250,000 additional head of stock could havo been frozen' in tho district this season if there had been tlio facilities. Nearly two million head wero frozen in the provinco' last year. Ho feared many farmors would object to . giving a bond to frcozo only with their own company, but with tho prevailing surplus of stock this might not bo necessary. Ho found that' tho New Zealand Shipping Company had taken up £20,000 worth ot shares iu tho Tokomaru works (Hawke's Bay), and also a largo.'number in a Canterbury company, and ho had been advised that they would also assist tho proposed company liberally. Mr. Kumnier (Mauriceville) said ho thought a sito to suit both coasts should bo near Wellington. Mr. Groves (To Nui) considered Castlepoint was a good site. Mr. 11. M'Kenzio (Masterton) said tho cost of railago from Wairarapa to Foxton would bo much greater than to Wellington. Mr. Cooper suggested a Porirua harbour site. Ho hoped that tlio West Coast people wero not absolutely tied to Foxton. 'Mr. Lomax said ho thought thero would bo sufficient support to ruu tho works in any site. Mr. Wingato said the expenses at Welling- • ton would bo greater. Ho had never thought of Porirua till' tlio. chairman mentioned it. At Foxton thoy would be able to land their stock on tho ocean-going liners for tlio saitio prico as it was shipped in Wellington harbour. Mi;. Lomax wanted to know, tlien why tho Lonfeburn works didn't ship jit Foxton, Mr. AVingato said tho Longburn Company found it advisable for other reasons to rail their stuff to Wellington. t Mr. M'Kenzie said that another consideration was that the largo population in Wellington would buy tlio rejects. ■Mr. Lomax said tho rejects wero canned at tho Gisborno works. After further discussion it was decided, on tho motion of Mr. Lomax, seconded by Mr. Brown: —That a provisional directorate of not less than seven bo formed. All tho members in tlio room agreed to ■ allow their names to go on tho directorate, and Mr. J. C. Cooper was appointed chairman, and Mr. J. Millie (Masterton) secretary. The liamo chosen was tlio Wellington Farmers' Meat Freezing Company, Ltd. Tlio shares .were fixed at £5 each. Tho following committee was appointed to draw up prospectus, ctc.Messrs. Cooper, Quirke, and Lomax.

IN FAVOUR OF RAPE. Tho principal of the Hawkesbury Coljogo, Jlr. I'otts, lias been telling tho farmers something about the value of rapo for pigs. This crop is 0110 of tho best, for its deep root system enables it to break up and penetrate tho subsoil. Air and moisture aro thus admitted, phosphoric acid and potash aro released, and taken to the surface, aiitj tho land is kept clean. If pigs are turned in to graze on tho crop, they manure tho soil. \Ylioig tho rapo is cut, and there is a fair rainfall, a second crop will como along. A series of experiments conducted to ascertain the feeding valuo of rapo showed that with pigs from 1 to 10 months old an aero of wellgrown rapo has a feeding value, if combined with a ration of maizo and bran, equivalent to 2-l3Glb. of a mixture of thesb grain feeds. Tho tests proved that .rapo gavo better results than clover pasture. Tho pigs on tho rapo made an avorago of 1001b. gain on 33.511). less grain than required bv tho barrows in clover. It was further demonstrated that rapo was by far tho best green feed for such a [impose raised at tho collego; and that, a crop of Dwarf lissex, planled in drills 30 inches apart, will yield three good crops in a favourable season. The plan most.suitable is to plant n. small lield of rape adjoining Iho yard, and with the aid of a movable fence the brood sows and tho young pigs can be most economically handled. Tho crop should roach 12 to 14 inches high beforo Die graziers are allowed to get to work. When tho fattening stage begins a richer food is necessary, such as barley, pollard, skimmilk. Tho pig industry, bv the wav, needs a lot of stimulating in Australia. It is out of iayour, for tlio reason that tho dairymen iiiul it pays bettor to raise calves than the gru liters; but tho time must como when tlio scicntilic knowledge necessary in pork and bacon production will be forced upon thoso now inclined to put their energies in other