LIGHT WEIGHTS AND GOSLOW

Manawatu Times, Volume XLIX, Issue 3493, 1 November 1926, Page 3

LIGHT WEIGHTS AND GOSLOW

OPERATE AGAINST SUCCESS PUT, SEASON. FEILDING FREEZING WORKS. In moving the adoption of the annual report and balance sheet of the Feilding Farmers’ Freezing Company I.td., at the annual meeting of shareholders yesterday, Mr, J. G. Cobbe (chairman of Directors), expressed regret that the past year’s working was not more successful. The year’s working only showed a surplus of £4SS which had been allotted to depreciation. “The prospects at the opening of the season seemed good, and your directors were hopeful that the season’s working would have shown a reasonable profit, but various causes, some of which I shall mention, operated against our successful work- ' ing. Although the number of sheep and lambs killed increased by 56,714, that increase was almost entirely made up of lambs. Decrease in Weights. The weights of all stock killed, except heifers, showed the following decreases compared with those handled during (he previous season: Wethers I. ewes 3.411 hs -t lambs 1.K21b5., bullocks 65.261b5„ cows 37.721b5.. bulls 2.121b5_, vealers 10.64ib5. Heifers showed an increase of 2ijlbs. It must be remembered that light stock cost as much to kill as the heavier weights, but the amount received for freezing is loss. In order to show how the lighter weights affect our income, I may point out' that for the past season drafting and droving cost less per head than for the previous year, but owing to the lighter weights the cost was actually more per lb. Had the condition of the stock boon equal to that of the previous season, it would have made a difference of 11, in the year’s operations, besides throwing considerably more tallow.

Tallow Prices Disappointing. The output of tallow and the price it realised during the past season wore both very disappointing. Although our killing of sheep and lambs exceeded the previous year’s by 56,714, the extra, quantity of tallow produced was only 56 cwt; but owing to the extra number of gutties we had to employ to cope with the increased number of lambs, and the small quantity of fa.t thrown, the extra cost of the tallow amounted to 12s per ton; while the account sales received up to the present show a decline of from £3 to £4 per ton compared with the previous season. i Unreasonable “Go SiOw” Policy. The unfortunate and utterly unreasonable trouble we had with our butchers, at the height of the season, caused us a considerable loss, as our heavy overhead charges, and a big share of our ordinary wages payments were going on all the time. Wo also lost the killing of about 15,000 sheep and lambs, which went to other works while our men wore “going slow.” The restrictions of the number of sheep and lambs killed by the butchers also adversely affected our operations. Difficult to Make Ends Meet. The rates wc receive for killing and freezing arc now so low, and the cost of procuring stock for treatment at our works is so high,', that it is now barely possible to mako ends meet. If our own shareholders, and also those farmers who are not shareholders. but who benefit greatly by having our works operating in their midst, would send us the whole of their fat stock the balance-sheet of the Feilding Company would tell a different talc. j I should like to remind you of (he fact that the prices paid by the Feilding Company for fat stock during the past year were on a level with the highest. rates ruling in (ho North Island, and were considerably higher than the prices prevailing in some districts. Under these circumstances it is extremely difficult to understand why farmers will pass works of which they arc part-owners, and which have helped to maintain stock prices, and send their fat iambs long distances by I rail, incurring a loss in weight, and running the risk of hold-up or delay. During the last two seasons Now Zealand sheep-owners received particularly good prices for t.neir sheep and lambs —the rates ruling here in | many cases being well above London parity.

Outlook Xnl Fright. T regret to say that, the outlook for moat during tho coming season is not as bright as one could wish. As you may have noticed, the opening prices for mutton and lamb in Australia, arc extremely low. anti although we nave a few woks to go before our season opens, yet .here is little doubt, that the low figures prevailing in Australia, will, to a certain extent, be reflected here. exporting linns and exporting works will naturally try to recoup themselves for the heavy losses sustained during the past couple of seasons, and t heir estimates of values are likely to Ire on the conservative side. The prolonged coal strike in England has had a bad effect upon the meat market, and is likely to seriously affect it for some time. Coal

is of such vital importance to a manufacturing country such ns Great. Britain, that a prolonged mining strike inflicts an enormous loss upon the whole country. No matter how or when (he trouble ends, it will mean a. considerable curfnilmenl of the spending ability of our best customer.