A GOOD RECOVERY

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LV, Issue 17028, 13 August 1929, Page 4

A GOOD RECOVERY

OTAGO FREEZING WORKS The South Otago freezing works closed its season last week with an output of 157,000 sheep and lambs. While this is undoubtedly a record for the works, yet it must not be forgotten that 1919 was an even better season in some respects. In that yea* the tally was 122,000 sheep and lambs and 6729 cattle. Included in the former were 71,000 sheep, whereas this season the output was practically all lambs, and there were only 137 cattle. Sheep are weightier than lambs, and a cattle beast in the freezing trade is considered equal to 16 lambs, so that from a profit-earning point of view, reckoned in freezing charges, was actually better than the season just closed. However, 1919 saw the last of the Government commandeer, when sheep anrt cattle of all classes were rushed into the freezers, and since then tho yearly output has been nothing like so great as that of the 1919 season when the works were given a great impetus by the farmers of the district combining to give active support. At the same time it has to be remembered that this season's record is very, largely due to the action of Mr. James Begg, one of the directors, who recently indulged in some very severe criticism of the farmers of the district in failing to support their own works. At the beginning of the season the works were under offer to the New Zealand Refrigerating Co., and in view of the lack of support by farmers during the previous season or two Mr. Begg recommended the acceptance of the offer. A general meeting of shareholders, however, rejected this recommendation and Mr. Be<rg resigned from the directorate, but events have now T proved that he was a true friend to the company.