INAUGURAL LUNCHEON

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 2929, 15 November 1916, Page 11

INAUGURAL LUNCHEON

INTERESTING SPEECHES NO CONNECTION WITH A GREAT MONOPOLY, WHOLLY N.Z: CAPITAL (B Telegraph—Special Reporter.) I Wanganui, November 14. The inaugural luncheon in connection with, the opening of the 1 Now Zealand Refrigerating Company, held at tho now Imlay Freezing Works this afternoon, was a most auspicious affair, and one of considerable consequence- to tho whole of the southern half of tho Wa- . ngahui district. . Those present probably represented ono of tho most notable gatherings of prominent Wanga-. niii district residents "ever held 1 . Besides tho leading townspeople, there, were representative farmers present from all parts of the district, from. Taranaki, Marton, Palmerston North, and Taihapo. Wellington was represented by Messrs. W. Watson and R. W.. Kane, directors, and Mr. W. Callend'er, general manager of the Bank of New Zealand, whilst Canterbury was represented by the directors of the company, •and Otago by Mr. John Roberts, C.M.G., also a director. .The function -was held in one of the rooms of the fertiliser department, about 300 people sitting down to an. excellently prepared! cold collation. Tho room, which could have accommodated twice the number (so vast is the size of every floor in these' great works), was' tastefully decorated with flags, and tho tables bore a burden of food and flowers; The modest menu card did not really reflect the excellence of- • tho faro, provided, which | was thoroughly onjoyed. . . • _ , The chair was occupied by the chairman of the Refrigerating .Company's' Board of Directors (Mr. If. A. Knight, of Canterbury), who was supported on tho right by the Hon. Robert M'Nab, Messrs. J. C.-Russell, Teschcmakcr, and ATm.' Murray (general manager),

Audi on the left by tbo Mayor (Mr. 0. Maekay). The cliuirman apologised for tlio absence of tho Hon. Jas. Allen, and also for tlio absoheo of Mr. Findjay , (chairman of tho Overseas Shipping Board), and expressed tho sentiment that they all regretted tho ahsenco of Mr. Ewen Campbell, who .had been called to Wellington to attend .the Wool Conference. He had' received otbor apologies for non-attendance, which need not be read out. Others present included: 11. J. Bcswick, U. V. Pearce, M.P., Dr. Cameron, Messrs. C. J. Reakcs (Veterinary Department), W. E. Bassett (Chamber of Commerce), A. E. Pearce, J. R.Roper, G. B. Bullock, W. Wallace, J. Sandteman, H. G. Warren, C. M. Raine (Bank N.Z.), Gifrord, Moore (A. and T. Association), 0. H. Howarth' (engineer Harbour Board), 6. ,H. Browne, Hastings Mooro (chairman Gonville Town Board), AV. A. Vcitch,M.P., J. B. Murray (Wanganui Har-

boiir Board), D. V. Nathan, Allan Robinson, T. B. Williams (Chamber of Commerce), ]). P. Lethbridge (chairman Rangitikci County Council), . B. ' M. Litchfield (Bank of New Zealand), G. Harper, W. 0. Campbell (secretary N.Z. Eefrigerating Co.), A. G. Bignell, Walter Danton (architect of works;, Victor Danton, .T. V. Stevenson (Castlecliff Railway), C. F. Millward. C. M! Cresswoll (secretary Wanganui Freezing Co.). ' 11. Hall. C. Lord, Donald

M'Loan. C. Russell, J. B. Murdich, D. Qollis, Hugh Burrell (chairman directors Feilding Farmers' Freezing Co.), and D. E. Ross. Mr. Knight's speech, proposing tho toast "Our Guests," having been delayed in transmission, it will bo published tomorrow. According to the Press Association report of tho opening, Mr. Knight' gave an emphatic- denial to a rumour, that the American Meat Trust V'ks associated with the new industry. So said the company was purely a New Zealand one, including its finance. When it was decided to erect the present Imlay works a debenture issue of £150,000. was floated and was over-sub-scribed within tlie Dominion.

* The Southern Invasion. Tho Hon.. R. M'Nab, replying for

"Our Guests," expressed the very great pleasure it gave him to be present at the opening of such works, and to respond at such a great gathering on be-' 'naif of the guests. The programme that was to follow contained 6ome very important items, and ho did not wish to stonewall; besides, lie bad other du-, ties to attend to in AVanganui which concerned the courthouse and the gaol. The Minister said the inspection of the AVanganui works was a now aspect of tlip southern invasion. He spoke of what the South Island .farmer's had previously done for the North in establishing themselves here. After the farmer the southern politician came up and got constituencies, and under that category he placed himself. (Laughter.) Br. M'Nab did not think the high prices for our products would ob-

tain after the war. Ono very important point with regard to the future, when'we had to recast our ideas and enter into the great world.competition, would be.economy in every.'direction;. One of" the best methods.'of economy was the employment of up-to-date mar chinery, and should tho time come when some industries would have to go under. because of great competition,' ho feltthat the NeSv Zealand .Refrigerating Company's works at Inilay would survive because tliey had introduced, tlio latest and most up-to-date methods arid machinery." Dr. M'Nab briefly referred to the rumours about the company ber ing connected with a great "monopoly, •and said ho'did not for a moment.be--lievo the rumours that were current. If the monopoly referred to desired to operate' it Would not'be in New Zealand, ..but.-where- the New Zealander sent his products. In conclusion, Dr. M'Nab.thanked the directors on behalf of those, present for their invitation to attend the opening ceremony, and wished long life and prosperity to tho company's.works. , ■ . ' Building for tlia Future." In proposing the toast of the' New Zealand.Eefrigerating Company, and success-to. the linlay works, the Mayor said: "Tlio toast I am proposing would lie acclaimed anywhere in Wanganui; but it.will he received with special, enthusiasm here in the very midst of the magnificent .structure wo are assisting to open to-day. This ceremony celebrates tho opening not merely of a now building, but .of a new era in the growth of our town and district. Many of us see these.buildings to-day for the first time, and few of us can have realised the otxont, the ramifications, and the oomplexitv of modern works such p.s these. Thou' erection is a monument to the company's enterprise, and I feel sure that it will be a proof of their .business foresight. In choosing W.angamii as- the site they have not merely paid us a high compliment—thov have given a most strildnit public testimony to the opinion held throughout the Dominion as to the future growth and prosperity of Wanganui. _ Tho present works have not been built merely for present .requirements, they have been built-bv, pemilo who realise that this district is still in its infancy, that its resources arc as yet hardly tapped, and that it is necessary to provide for a large future extension of growth and settlement. These anticipations will, I believe, not be disappointed. Wanganui has always shown itself progressive and alive to its own interests. We have taken up one-task'of development after another, and tho latest to which we'havo turned our. attention is lilcelv to be the most important of all. I refer, of course, to tho proposed EaeMhi railway, to \\\f realisation of which 1 trust we. will all devote our energy. It is n task tho completion of which

will benefit us all, and none more than our guests oC to-day. You will receive this toast all tllo more heartily because you must realise the prosperity of tho company means the prosperity of tbe town and district. 1 need not dilate upon tho importance of those words to the town. _ Thoy mean, increased employment, increased population, and increased circulation of money. To tho harbour they mean a traffic that' will of itself go far to ensure tho success of tho works wo have now in hand. To tho country they mean better facilities, better markets for their produce, and assistance in the development of our back-country. Tq all thoy mean progress and advancement. I have, therefore, much pleasure in asking you to join with me in honouring the toast I have been privileged to propose."

(Applause.) A Big Uplift. Mr. C. J. Russell (president of the Wanganui 'Agricultural Association) said it gave him great pleasure to: dorse, the toast so fluently proposed by Mr. Maekay. To him Wanganui was the hub of til© universe, and anything that' tended to make it. grow bigger was joy untold to him. He thought that everyone would admit that the building of 'sucli huge works in their midst was one of the biggest uplifts Wanganui had had for a long time, and thoy had to thank the directors of the New Zealand- Refrigerating Company for that. At the same time it was gratifying to the farmers and everyone else in Wanganui to know that suoh 6ound business. men as Mr. Knight, Mr. Teschemaker," and. the directors of

tho company saw in the future i of Wanganui such possibilities that- they, could afford to spend t'omothing like £200,000 on-a branch, works, -winch, if, not the biggest, was the most up-to-date works in, New Zealand.' --Canterbury farming, was farming on. the bestlines, and farmers from ,tW south; had shown -them • many wrinkles 'en' how to farm.- Now a freezing company from, Canterbury had coin© amongst them to' sliow'thom how, freezing should be done. Ho hoped that it. would Dot be i long before tho.Lpndon market was flooded with'' "prime -Canterbury," bred " and fattened iit tho. Wanganui district, and killed at the Imlay Works; (Applause.). He had spent some of his time in the South Island,,and knew a little of the company then, known as the Ohristchurch Meat .Company, and he was quite suro that anyone who had ever dealt with tho company had been quite satisfiod with the result.' As there was no doubt that tho management of the Imlay Works would be on the same lines as those adopted in Canterbury any local breeders who en'trusted their stock to the. company would bo sure of the best treatment and /good prices. Mr. Russell concluded his remarks by inviting tho visiting directors to the show, giving them a hearty welcome to tho district, and finally ho wished the company a most prosperous future. \Applausc.) Replying to some eulogistic references by Mr. Murray, Mr. Walter P'anton (tile, head of the architectural firm concerned' in the erection of tho new buildings) said that it gave him great pleasure to hear the good things said about his son and himself. Though he had done much work of the kind there had been a good deal of gratification at the chance of planning something really up to dato ,and he thought they had been able to bring that about. Thoy would all soon have the opportunity to have a look round. Those who understood such works wero at liberty to criticise as much as they liked. Those who did riot, could shut up. (Laughter.) The works represented tho accomplishment -of a great amount of work, work which ho was suro would be found to bo efficient and fitted up in the best possible manner. "As far as I am concerned," said Mr. Pnnton, "thcro is all I have learned. I havo put into those works my best. 'As such they ought to appeal to the farmers, as with works built on such lines they were in a bettor position to deal with the stuff, and all the by-products. ThaVs the way I look at it." (Applause) A Few Figures. In his response, Mr. A. G. Bignoll (of the contracting firm of Russell ajid Bignoll) said: "On behalf of my partner, Mr. Russell, and myself, it is with very great pleasure- I respond to the toast of the contractors for the reason that

this meeting.marks the very near com! '-; pletion of a' very strenuous twelve! ...j months' operations in the carrying oufj ■. \ of what I believe is one of the /; est building contracts ever let in this ■ ! Dominion. Under ordinary conditions) tho work would have been no easy task,' ! but to obtain the necessary material; and labour required in the construction | of such a work during the present ab j normal'times made our position doublyj difficult, and as you may suppose al • I much more expensive one. It has onlyj j been possible to bring the work to ita ; present stage by tho hearty and loyal co-< 'j operation of our staff, and by paying;' j heavy sums in overtime rates and war]. ' bonuses. Twelve months ago this site; '•■ was part of a grass paddock..Sincethatj j date 'wo have received and .usedi j in tho erection of these buildings the';..." following material:—Two and ,a halfi! ';' million bricks, two million feet j of? timber, two'thousand tons ofcemenfcT j and lime, twelve thousand tons " oEj gravel and sand, five hundred ton's ofi steel and ironwork, and no 70 miles of roofing battens, '•■'making a?, ■.: total, including sundries, of 32,000 .tons!' i dead weight. The mere handling of] ' : tliis huge total represents an immense! amount of work alone. Had it all beea carried in ordinary railway trucks ib. j means a total of approximately 500Oi truck loads. The difficulty of procur-l •■•': ing suitable labour has been a constant; source of trouble. It has only been by! advertising from Auckland to Inver-; | cargill that men could be obtained, andj . then not in sufficient numbers to fill; ! requirements. If it were necessary toj again commence such a work as this, I, am certain it would be extremely dim-': cult' to obtain sufficient labour to com-: plete it in anything approaching the 1 , same time as these buildings... have!. taken. The shortage of labour present?!' a serious difficulty to all employers,; l especially •where largo numbers arc re- : quired. Speaking as a member of the, Wanganui Harbour Board, I voice the; opinion of its. members and. inyselfi when I say we welcome.' tho New Zea-J laud Refrigerating Company to ,Wa-»-nganui, and recognise that its"..opera-|' tions must materially benefit our port? in the future. AVe take it as a com-'; pliment to this district that Wanganui ■ should have been decided on by the? company, after, I understand, exhaus-i tive inquiries had been made as to thes best centre on the West Coast for the establishment of the comprehensive; </' works you see hero to-day. Although; our harbour development scheme is not)'.. making such rapid progress as wei hoped to,accomplish, owing to variousi unavoidable causes, still 1 am firmly, of opinion', that this company, in com-: ' moh with all users of oiir port, will nob* be disappointed with the result of the board's operations when circumstances! permit lis to push on to completion) the works now in hand. As one with a' ■ good knowledge of the capabilities and possibilities of this district, I congratu- ;■' late the New Zealand Refrigerating ' ■ Company on its enterprise in ' ing itself in Wanganui, and I _ be-; lieve the magnitude of its business operations in the future will not bo anyjl disappointment to it, and will ■■_ fully justify the erection of' the splendid establishment now on the point ofi commencing its. legitimate operations.'' ■' (Applause.)

A Tour of Inspection. .. At tho-conclusion of the lunckeoil tho big party, of guests were shown 1 over the -works, and were much' inn pressed by their magnitude and iip-tov da-teness. . Tho works are to be thrown open td the general public for the next two days, so that all may see what a/ modern meat works really is.