NEW FREEZING WORKS

Evening Post, Volume XCI, Issue 92, 18 April 1916, Page 5

NEW FREEZING WORKS

OPENED BY PRIME MINISTER

TO SUPPLY FEILDING DISTRICT'S

WANTS,

(SI OUR SPECIAL KETORTEK.)

FEILDING,'I7th April.

The large premises of the Oroua and West Coast Meat and Produce Company, Ltd., which have been built at Aorangi, not very far from Feilding, were officially opened this after, noon by the Prime Minister' (Right Hon. W. F. Massey) in the presence of a very large gathering of people.

Mr. Hugh >Burrell, the ' chairman of directors, who presided, on behalf of the directors tendered the public a very hearty welcome to the opening ceremony of the works. After stating that Mr. Massey.had always had keen sympathy for the small farmers- of the community, he outlined the history of the formation of the company. He said that it was four or five years ago that Mr. C. F. Johnstone, now fighting in Flanders, had interested. himself in the establishment of freezing works in the Feilding district. His scheme failed, but he collected very much valuable information. Mr. H. Roberts then took the project up, and secured an option over the present site, which had been reported on by a ■ Qualified engineer and the health authorities. Mr. Roberts had handed the site over-.to the "directors .without any profit to himself. At the meetings which took, place in the various parts of the district a pledge was given that any works in Feilding would be built on that particular site. He mentioned this because of certain criticism tliat had been raised. The directors were bound to that site, and as honourable men, if any other site had been selected, the only alternative would have been to hand back the money to investors. The total capita] subscribed was £42,985 in shares of £leach. Of this 12s 6d in the £' had been called up. This amounted to £2(5,865, leaving the uncalled up capital £16.120. The shareholders numbered 500, and the average holding of shares was 86. The total expenditure was £53,848, including : Land £3968, .buildings £24,272, and machinery and plant £16,650. The most satisfactory financial arrangements had' been made with the bankers, and the company would be. able to obtain sufficient cash for all the stocks the works were able to deal with. But the company.was just 10,000 shares behind, and he strongly urged the people to come forward and take up those shares. If this were done the company would be on -mi excellent financial basis, fractically all the machinery had been installed, and, as to the buildings, the contractor (Mr. M'Millan) had carried out his work in a very honest and satisfactory manner. 'Arrangements had been made with the Waingawa Company to accommodate the stock in the meantime ; these stocks comprised 14,000 sheep, 13.000 lambs, and 1500 head of cattle. There were 1,800,000 sheep in the district, and the question was whether the works would.be capable of taking the stocks available. Personally he thought it would not be long before the works would- have to be doubled in size. He was pleased to say that already the company had sufficient cattle for, three months killing.

The chairman then announcad that, Mr. M'Millan has presented a foundation stone to the company, and a silver trowel for Mr. Massey. (Applause.)

The Prime Minister then addressed the gathering (his speech being reported elsewhere), and declared the foundation stone..well. and., truly da-id,: ■ ..•-,-' „- „