STEAMER DELAYED.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 16169, 4 March 1916, Page 9

STEAMER DELAYED.

CLOSING OF MEAT WORKS.

TWO WEEKS' KILLING.

MORE STORAGE NEXT SEASON.

ADDITION OF 80,000 CARCASES.

Deux in the arrival of a steamer lias necessitated the closing of the Southdown and Horotriu freezing works earlier than was anticipated a few days ago. Slaughtering operations will be suspended from March 17 to* about March 27, when tho works will again re-open for a short period.

Advico was recently received by the Auckland Farmers' Freezing Company that its allotment in March steamers would be 15,000 carcases in a steamer duo towards the end of next week, and 24,000 carcases in another steamer due about March 15. It was then calculated that by reducing the killings the company would be able to postpone tlio closing of its works until late in the month. It lias now been informed that the loading programme of the second steamer lias been altered, so that it will not arrive at, Auckland until March 23. The rate of handling stocks at tho works will be reduced to little more than half their capacity from Monday, but unless relief is provided in tho meantime, the storage at both Southdown and Horotiu will be filled by March 17. The slaughtering of stock will then be suspended until about March 27, when the works will be reopened to kill sufficient stock to fill the space rendered available by the second shipment of the month. The subsequent operations of the works will depend on the allotment of space in the April steamers. An extension of the cool storage at both, the works has been undertaken by the directors of tho company in preparation for next season's operations. The secretary of the company, Mr. D. Long, stated yesterday that there are indications of a 1 shortage of . insulated steamers for some considerable time. Owing to the drought in Australia, the position in New Zealand has been relieved to some extent by the liberation of shipping which, in other circumstances, would have been required for tho Australian 'trade. Many insulated steamers are being used by the Imperial authorities, but oven if these are liberated as soon as possible after the war there is likely to be a Bhortago for somo time afterwards. In order to guard against a congestion similar to that which has existed during last season and this season, the directors of the company have decided to enlarge the storage capacity at tho Horotiu works oy 30,000 carcases, and that at Southdown by 50,000 carcases. When the proposed additions are completed, the company will have storage for 100,000 careases of moat at Horowu, and 120,000 carcases at Southdown, with storage for 2500 tons of butter and 1200 tons of cheese in Auckland. The present equipment of the works will bo sufficient to freeze the increased quantities of meat without adding to the machinery. The Horotiu works, with a killing capacity of 3000 carcases per day, and storage for 70,000 carcases, were completed only in January, but owing to the greatly increased demand for freezing stock, an extension has already become necessary.