FREEZING INDUSTRY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LI, Issue 15519, 29 January 1914, Page 4

FREEZING INDUSTRY.

INCREASING EXPORTS. /1 3g COMPANY EXTENDING PLANT., . . m • -m So an impetus has been given to tig - freezing industry by expanding exports batter and frozen meat that the Auckland-1 Farmers' Freezing Company has deadtif to erect a new building and additions plant on a site adjoining the one it at present occupies, near the King's Wharf, - the total cost involved being estimated ifc£4o,ooo. . The total quantity of butter exported:®; date this season, from Auckland » 312,374 boxes, of an approximate value j||| £780,922, as compared with 277.903 boxe||! worth about £699,745, for the correspond! ing period of last , season. This shows«® increase for the present season of 34,471*boxes, equivalent to a value of £81,177, -' The total meat killed to date this seasos 11 ' is 2,191,7301b, valued at £32,000, a- ] against 997,9611b for the same period of I last season, an increase of 1,193,7691b, about £17,000 in value. Every , claa'i meat has shared in this substantial increase. The large growth in frozen meat exports is attributable to the fact that pries* are better this season. They are in fact so high at present that it pays handsomely • " to ship -meat for export? Another facta?" is : that; more fat stock is available thatt was the case last yew, •: Also. there iiSll greater call for frozen beef from England than ' existed last season, and; the indie* tions Tare that England will be making greater demand "each season, on New Zt&< land and Australian beef. -yi ' Diversion • of "Argentine •' Tridfc" The" reason for this is attributed'. to to , fact that , on November 1 last a new line of-ii , steamers was inaugurated between the At•gentine and . New York to supply . liar'/ United States with beef, this : trade having !| been, made * possible by the reduction in.. the ; American tariffs, >as ■ applied to titt product. This has had the effect of lessen- • ing the supply of Argentine meat to Eng< land, • where the demand will consequently probably : exceed the supply. . The result should -be ? the maintenance of / the present 1 . high ' prices : for beef, and possibly a : rite. ; In some quarters, it is considered likely'? that, the quotation for carcases naySreito 6d per lb. • ; ; - Prices for export are-making it wart#,;; the fanners' while to pay morerattentiWjT to stock, and :it . : is - considered to- bi' a;: gratifying ■circumstance . that they''aw& turning again in many directions to . the|? Shorthorn, _ which -is held to •' approach, nearer to the ideal , of a " dual purpose'A-H cow than any other breed. It is reporter also, now . that a : , good deal of the countrjj in; the; North is - rapidly coming into use* that fat steers fit 1' a. freezing are being" sent forward in increasing numbers. One . way and ''another the freezing ; industry is very flourishing and the prospects for good stores are excellent-. • ' Freezing Company's; Enterprise. . ' In anticipation of the increases whictej have materialised, the ■ Auckland Farai<S , |i Freezing •. Company took steps to increaso the capacity of its Southdown works by. C 60 per cent., but owing to the late delivery of the new freezing machinery •; (due to the strike) the extra freezing and storage accommodation there has not yet been.7 brought into use, and the company has noiS been able to deal with anything like .iSI amount of stock ottered. Therefore,:, although the increases in shipments V"of:® meat have been so large, they would rhaWS been larger still but for this : unforeseen! delay in the arrival of the, freeangs machine. It is now hoped, however, tc ? H have the plant running at Southdown in| about ten days' time, and so to cope with : all stock coming forward. The promising outlook for a continuants®! of the increases in exports of butter and frozen meat has been taken into consider-?; ation by the company, with tho result thai| the directors have, as stated.. practically double their buildings and piacfr-5 at the Auckland (King's Wharf) works, w as to make this establishment capableJoll dealing with the whole of the butter i ex*ports of the province from next seasononwards. The alterations and additions! there will be put in hand shortly and will? be completed, it is anticipated, by Novevn-': ♦r 11 m'' , ™ for the new season's but*. • jr* This will leave the company's South-; down works free to deal with nothing bafc'' stock. The new building will be erected" on an allotment 70ft by 220 ft ad joining. th?i Gilding, and the estimated cost $1 £20,000. The freezing plant to be instated? is estimated to cost a similar amount,"! making a total of £40,000. S-Si