FREEZING WORKS SEASON.

Southland Times, Issue 21362, 7 April 1931, Page 5

FREEZING WORKS SEASON.

To the Editor. Sir,—At a recent meeting of the Farmers’ Union the question of the opening date of the freezing works for next season was brought up and it was decided that - the matter be held over in the No doubt the'members had some good'reason for their action, but it seems to me that the freezing companies of Southland should make a statement now before the mating season commences as to when they are prepared to open the works. " I feel certain that I’ am voicing the opinion of the majority of our lamb raisers in saying that the cause of a lot of lambs being second quality was principally owing to rhe late opening of the works. The demand is for 361 b. lambs first quality and it is a difficult job to get that result after the ewe has been shorn. I know many cases this year where the farmer started shearing in the beginning of January in order to get the wool into the first sale. At the time of shearing the lambs were good, but two or three weeks later when the buyer came round they had gone back, the milk had gone off the ewes and the only course was to wean, crutch, dose and dip the lambs and put them on feed. With all this additional work and. the expense of growing feed it is well into March before the lamb, is ready for the works and in many cases it is not as valuable as it was two months earlier. If the companies could give some indication before the middle of April of their intended opening date for next season I feel sure it would be much appreciated by the farmers.—l am, etc., J. GRAHAM. Glencoe, April 4, 1931.