PRODUCE FOR OVERSEAS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LII, Issue 16097, 10 December 1915, Page 5

PRODUCE FOR OVERSEAS

—— -• FREEZING SPACE DEMAND. OVER CAPACITY OF WORKS. NEED FOR HOROTIU FACTORY. Tub Auckland Freezing Company is being embarrassed by tho exceptionally heavy demand for killing space in the Southdown Freezing Works. Applications for space during the second half of December totalled the equivalent of 5000 cattle, ' and, as only about half that number could be handled, it was impossible to allot applicants all the space they asked for. A rearrangement of considerable importance to owners of stock has therefore been decided upon. For some time past Thursdays have been Kept open for stock bought at the Westfield sale. The company, in view of the increased demand for space, does not feel justified in keeping this day open any longer, and until further notice Thursdays will not be reserved for stock from the sale. This will probably have a marked effect on buying at the sale during the nest few weeks. Easing the Position. The position will be rendered easier In January by the opening of the Horotiu freezing Works. The new works will have a capacity of 3000 sheep per day. Paren- ! thetically, it may be pointed out that in I these calculations 10 sheep or 17 lambs i are regarded as being eoual to one bullock. « J52? thdown wor ks also have a capacity ! of 3000 sheep per day, but this number I Is reduced owing to the large quantities of butter that have to be handled there. A new freezer, capable of handling all ! the butter available, is being built in Auckland by the company. The comple- i tion of this, freeing the Southdown works ', for other business, and the opening of the I Horotiu works, will greatly improve the ' situation. The secretary stated yesterday ' that, with the Horotiu works almost ready for service, the company hopes that in from four to six weeks' time it will he able to revert to the old arrangement under which sale stock is handled at the South- . down works.on Thursdays. The secretary reports that this season, up to the present, no difficulty has been experienced in obtaining steamer space. The Ruapehu will lift equal to 25,000 601b carcases next week, and space for j 10,000 carcases has been secured in the I Mam&ri. leaving about December 24. and 10,000 in the Waiwera, due to sail about the end of the month or early in January. j The secretary was also able to supply I some interesting figures, showing the stock received at the works for killing this season—from July 1 to December 4—as compared with the same period last year. The totals are :— - Last This „ , Season. Season. £»"'• 9.300 11,600 Sheep ... ... 27.000 5.800 Lambs ... ... 2.600 5.300 Abnormal Number Last Season. Perhaps it should be explained that the number of sheep received at the works last season was abnormal. The total was 95,842 and it will be understood what an increase this was when it is stated that from 1904 to the end of the 1913-14 season, the total number of sheep handled at Southdown was only slightlyover 74,000. Last season stockowners were getting rid of their sheep under the double inducement of high prices and a severe droughtand the latter condition does not exist this year. Butter continues to reach the Southdown works at the rate of 3500 boxes per day, and cheese is now coming to hand at the rate of 400 crates per day. The total receipts, since June 30 are "237,944 boxes, and 15,386 crates respectively an increase of 10 per cent, in butter and 150 per cent, in cheese, as compared with the same period of last season. The Ruapehu, sailing next week, will take away about 37,000 boxes of butter »nd 5000 crates of cheese.