THE FREEZING INDUSTRY.

Southland Times, Issue 16841, 18 September 1911, Page 6

THE FREEZING INDUSTRY.

OUTPUT FOB THE SEASON 1 . A CONSIDERABLE DROP. The following are particulars of Sheep and lambs killed at the freezing •works In Otago and Southland during tie season just ended, and for the corresponding period of last year : 1910. 1911. Qamara — Sheep 18,100 1.19G Lambs 141,878 24,017 Boilers 6,502 1.384 Totals 166,480 26,597 Burnside — Sheep 26,177 37,967 Lambs 133,417 162,129 Totals 159.594 200,096 Stataura and Wallacetown — Sheep 56,599 55,314 Lambs 261.691 257,461 Totals 318,290 312.775 C>cean BeachSheep 23,737 18,881 Lambs 123,297 100,332 Totals 147,034 119,213 Grand Totals 791,398 658,681 This gives a decrease of 132,717 carcases and this result may partially be t.ttributed to the drought and partially to the fact that during the season of 1910 the output was abnormal, there being over half a million less sheep la the Dominion at the beginning of the I resent year than there was at the beginning of the previous year. That is to say that the Hocks in the Dominion lad been encroached on to that extent rrore than could be made up by the ratural increase. This, obviously, whenever It occurs, must lessen the succeeding year’s output. The greatest decrease was at Oamaru, which was 139,883 short of the previous year. Tiie Oamaru works wore closed dining the greater part of the season on account of the unfavourable conditions, and the sheep from that distract were afterwards forwarded to Burnside, which in consequence increased its output by ..4,502. The total output in Otago decreased, however, by 99,38 1, Southland has .not experienced such a great falling off, the figures being 33,336 less i.han in IJIO. It may be opportune at this juncture •:o refer to the proposals that have been made to establish additional freezing works in Otago and Southland. For instance it hfls been mooted that works should be set going at Balclutha. But ;t must be admitted .that owing to the failure of Oamaru to keep going Burnside has experienced an abnormal year, and this no doubt bus inlluenced the opinion that the Burnside works are jnable to cope with requirements. But in ordinary circumstances tiie Burnside works would receive no sheep from Oamaru district, and there would then be no reason—-and there has been none previously —to suppose that the Otago output could not be well and efficiently Jealt with by the works already established. Viewing the whole of the circumstances dispassionately. it would seem that the erection of additional freezing works in Otago and Southland would amount to a serious blunder, as It is quite evident that the number already in existence is quite sufficient for the requirements of the two provinces.