The Feilding Star Oroua and Kiwitea Counties’ Gazette SATURDAY, MAY 30, 1925. FEILDING'S LOCAL INDUSTRY

Feilding Star, Volume 3, Issue 576, 30 May 1925, Page 4

The Feilding Star Oroua and Kiwitea Counties’ Gazette SATURDAY, MAY 30, 1925. FEILDING'S LOCAL INDUSTRY

To-day the Feilding freezing I works close down, this ending thej 1925 season. The sheep were fin- i plied off yesterday and the cattle j to-day. Those interested and with a memory for such things will remember that last, year the works put up the record business of. its existence. But the season just, closed has given returns far in exCCtSS of anv previous period', .hast Year’s record is very easily surpassed. The season ran the usual i six months, and the killing hoards were kept going busily all the way through. So great- were the supplies of lambs and sheep, as well as of beef, that the totals will lie found to place the Feilding works amongst the most successful in the whole of the Dominion. The arrangement with the .1 aihape cornmany had something to do with this result, but it was actually 'found that the farmers of the Tailiapo area had many buyers chasing them for their stock. This was all to the good for the Taihape farmers, and with it all still they got, a very good bargain from the Feilding works in view of the temporary closing down of (lie Taihape works. So far as Feilding was concerned the diversion of the Taihape stock helped to keep our local hoards well filled, enabling a steady output. As for the Feilding farmers themselves, they have been fairly loyal to the local works—which really means that they have been serving their own interests host by sending to their own works, which are wholly co-operative. That is why the Feilding works are so valuable to tin's district. Tbere are still some farmers—and who are actually shareholders in the company—who persist n sending their stock even long distances to he killed, instead of encouraging local- industry and saving stock wastage by train travelling. So long as they cannot see the twofold value of sending sheep and lambs to the nearest works that are not only their own co-operative concern, but are situated at their very backdoor, so long will they miss the practical and patriotic feature of local industry and play* ing up lo the very best- spirit of co-operation. Probably these supporters of outside works will say that . action is strictly thenown business. Then why do they eampTain about the destructive mtiuenee of trusts and combines and proprietory concerns in keeping down prices for primary products ? Co-operation means all for all — not; for one. However, there has been a marked improvement in local farmers’ support for the local works this year, and still better result is expected next :>eison. For the contention of the directors of the Feilding Fanners' Freezing Co. that farmers were serving themselves best by sending their stock- to the local works has been amply demonstrated again this year. -Gisborne has been and sti1 1 is very much in (lie public eye on account of the sittings of the Meat Commission. It may surprise many folks to learn that the Feilding works have paid lid per pound more than Gisborne—which means 4s more on a 521 b Jamb. Feilding has paid id per pound more for wethers nn'd ewes—which means 2s Gd more on a- 601 b sheep. The prices paid to Feilding farmers have also been decidedly higher than Auckland pastor a lists received. This result has been largely due to co-opcration, the local directors being more concerned in getting good prices for their farmer clients than in striving after profits for the works. The more clearly farmers recognise the value of flu: co-operative spirit, the mere closely will they organise to maintain it in the pracliael sense by patronisng only their own works. As indicated by the stock-t-hat has gone through the works, lambs have been decidedly better in quality this season than last year from lib to 21b better, in fact. A. dry season had given them more substance. Asa result the pastoraTists of Feilding and district have had a very good sea- 1 soil indeed, despite the pessimistic

fluctuation at Home. But what about Feilding itself? The freezing works have been a varitable goldmine to shops and secondary industries. Many hands have been employed, and this Means many families have been supported. The generous, wages were mostly spent in Feilding, and this town is certainly blessed with a valuable asset in the works, which arc becoming more, ancl more important as the years go by.