FREEZING WORKS AT BALCLUTHA.

Otago Witness, 1 June 1910, Page 6

FREEZING WORKS AT BALCLUTHA.

At a well-attended meeting hold at Balclutha on Friday afternoon it was decided to form a company to establish freezing works in that centre to meet the require-

* menta of stockowners in the Clutha, Tuapeka, and Brace Counties. The nominal i capital of the company is to be £75,000, | in 15,000 shares of £5 each, and it is proj posed that the first issue shall be of J 10,000 shares. The idea is to erect works 1 capable of dealing with 1000 sheep ond | 40 head of cattle per day, with suitable | storage, and to equip the works with the | most modern machinery and appliances ; for freezing and also for dealing with the effal and by-products. The company is to be registered as soon as 5000 shares are subscribed, and as £4OOO was subscribed in the room, it is evident the promoters are in earnest, and there is every prospect of the works being in operation within 12 months or so. It is probable that those present at the meeting were largely influenced bv the address given by Mr Waymouth, the manager of the Canterbury Freezing Company, who was very enthusiastic in his support of the project. He assured' the meeting that freezing works at Baklutha would improve the financial status of every farmer in the district. The works .Would probably raise the value of lambs in the district by 2s per head, and also enhance the value of the land. Mr Waymouth was able to point to the success* which had followed the establishing of freezing works in various parts of Canterbury, and with that exampde before them it is not surprising that those present were convinced that similar results would attend the starting of freezing works at Balclutha. Whether that will be the case time alone can show. With representative provisional directors such as were appointed at Friday's meeting there is every reason to believe the works will eventually prove a success if supported as they should be by farmers and graziers. But the promoters must not be disappointed if the success is not immediate. Despite the exercise of care and prudence, unforseen contingencies are likely to arise, which only the exercise of patience can overcome. This is the rock on which many co-opera-tive ventures intended to benefit producers has foundered. The man who raises fat lambs or sheep is ever ready to sell to the highest bidder, quite irrespective of their destination. If the new freezing works are to be the success anticipated this can only be brought about bv the cordial support of the settlers, even though that support may for a time involve pome slight financial loss. We wish the venture every good fortune, and trust that the glowing picture painted bv Mr Waymouth of the beneficial results that will follow the starting of the works will be realised.