Big Step Forward.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXIX, Issue 41, 10 June 1914, Page 2

Big Step Forward.

DIRECTORS APPOINTED. FOR PROPOSED NORTHERN FREEZING WORKS. SITE QUESTION VERY OPEN.

A general meeting of settlers was held in the Borough Council Chambers yesterday afternoon to further deal with the proposal to establish farmers' freezing works in northern Taranaki. Mr W. A. McCutchan was voted to the chair. Apologies for absence were received from Messrs H. Trimble (Inglewood), W. Birdling (Waitara), and C. Barnitt (TJruti). The chairman said the committee suggested that works costing £45,000 should be built, but they desired to know definitely what measure of support was forthcoming. They believed that there was sufficient stock in the province to keep a further works going. .. Nobody could say anything against Borthwick's, which was a good, reliable linn. The Patea works had been started with too little capital and the port there was always against them. It was felt that there was sufficient room for new works. When the Waingawa works were started in the Wairarapa three years ago there was consiiderable. opposition, and it was stated that | there was no room for them, but the works had been enlarged twice, and last year they killed a quarter of a million sheep. The amount to be subscribed before allotment had been criticised, and it was thought that perhaps it would be better to place the amount at £20,000 m

I place of £12,500. As to the site: Vn, iless the whole province joined m the scheme it would not succeed, and if the works were placed inland the fanners in the north and on the west coast would pvohably not. join in, It was stated in connection with this matter, that if the works were north of Ingle- ' wood the stock of people in the south would be travelling towards the port when going to the works. » - A resolution being called tor, Mr W • G, Maloiie said the recommendation of i the committee, should he put in sections. While the meetiug would be divided on the question of site they would probably agree on the advisability of starting the company. Mr E. Griffiths thereupon moved that on £12,500 worth of shares being ( applied for allotment be proceeded with on a company with a capital or, £IOO,OOO in £5 shares. Messrs F. Mackay and J. B. Richards had a short discussion on the exportable proportion of sheep in the Dominion. Mr C. Young said there had been too much talk about statistics. _ They should rather go into the question as to how far farmers were prepared to co-operate to support their own works. The motion was carried. Mr H. B. Curtis said it would be

a great pity to have the works north oAnglewood, but a good, site could be got two or three miles south of Inalewood. There was always a hip; expense for fuel, hut south of Itaglewood water power could be procured to run the works. If it was on the north of Inglewood the refuse would go into the Waiongona River, from which Waifcara got its water supply, and the Waitara people would probably make trouble. He thought that-a good position would he about Durham Road. Mr Malone moved that tAie question of site he left to a board of experts to be elected by the directors, consisting of three members—one expert in freezing matters, one in general business, and one in farming. He did not think the meeting that ddy was competent to fix the site. A catch vote might be taken and a site fixed, but the fixing might prove the ruin of the project. The majority of the men who found th<s money must be considered. No definite evidence had been put before the meeting on the question of site, and, no doubt, many reasons could be advanced by those present in favor of . a variety of sites. He thought it would be very much better if the independent hoard he suggested were set up by the directorate, after the settlers' were convinced that sufficient support was forthcoming to justify the formation of the company. Irrespective of the location of the works, farmers sbould combine on the general principle of establishing the works. Mr 31 Brannigan seconded the motion. Mr AV. H. H. Young said the district supplying the most capital should have the most say in fixing the location. MnE. Griffiths said it was highly

important to have unity on the general question of erecting works, but ho did not think/ the shelving of the site question would make for such unity. Mr Barnitt (Fruti) said the farmers in his district would not use the works unless they were situated near Lepperton, and Mr Wright (Rahotu) had also spoken against a site south of Lepperton. Mr Newton King said that if the East Road country could support works of its own it should do so; but if the success of their works depended on farmers in the Mokau district and on the coast south of Xew Ply|mouth those farmers should have consideration. Driving stock from the coast to'inland works and then railing I them back to. the coast was unbusinesslike. If a canvasser was asking people to take shares the first thing they I would want to know would be the location of the works and they would take no shares until they did know. Mr Richards said that even if the works were erected in the north they might not get many sheep from there —most of the sheep in the province were in the southern portion.

Mr McCluggage said that they might possibly get a site at Moturoa, which would settle the whole question, Mr King said Mr Richards seemed to

forgot the sheep in the country northwards of Mokau.

Mr Richards said all the Ohura sheep would find their way to the eastern branch line. The sheep north of Mokau wore somewhat far away and would probably be frozen in the \Vaikato.

Mr €. Young said Nature had provided an ideal location at Moturoa. If the carcases could be shifted from the works to the ship by gravitation it would lie much better t'han loading them in vans. Moturoa was the pivot point of Taranaki and the-works should be as near it as possible. The whole country led to Moturoa.

Mr McCluggago said the secretary of the Harbor Board had written to hini stating that there was a reserve of forty acres which was available for letting and which would be suitable for freezing works. As a member of the Harbor Board he (Mr McCluggage) was certain ,the Board would give

every facility for the erection of the works. The reserve was on a hill and would lend itself to a gravitation scheme of conveying the carcases to the ship. Mr Griffiths moved as an amendment that, the committee's recommendation bo adopted—that the site be selected somewhere between Inglewood, Waifeara and New Plymouth. In accordance with suggestions made by gentlemen present ho altered his motion to road between Waitara, Moturoa and three miles south of IngleWood. . Mr C. Sangster seconded.

Mr Malono said that if a farmer in the north got his sheep to inland works it would lie for the buyer to' worry about the freight back to the port. The mover of the amendment hacf approved the principle of trusting to experts to determine the site. He would | vote .against the amendment because he thought it was against the best interests of the movement.

Mr W. H. H. Young asked why recent works elsewhere had been built inland. The Waingawa situated inland and were a success, and works were proposed at Feilding, Hamilton and Taihape—all inland towns. Experience had evidently taught farmers the virtue of having their works inland. The Ohura country would be a great factor in thesmc-. cess of the works, and when the Chamber of Commerce party visited Ohura the settlers there said they would like to see the works as near Stratford as, possible. L • Mr A. W. Budge said meat could be railed cheaper dead than alive. They should,have definite information as to the support to be received from the coasta,l , districts. Personally he thought tfie. support from those districts would not be large.- ~",'.,. ~,

Mr E, Marfell said that the works should be right at the port, and failing that should be in the midst of the main supply,of stock.

Mi' MeCutehan said that settlers on the.eastern, line were not worried, over the location ,of the site,, recognising that wherever north of {-Stratford it was their ,stQC r k wbuld) ,be always travelling towards thp ■, port. He personally believed that the , works would l)e a siip,-, port of tlie northern farmers. Mr W. P. Kirkwood thought it would he desirable that those providing the money should decide the question of site. Those taking shares could go into the question and come to a decision guided by exper,,fc. t opinion, .That would bo a good way'to get an indication of the rbest site. Mr Griffiths said his motion would secure the support of-ifche coast districts and would enable the necessary capital to be procured. ■ If Mr Malone's motion was carried it would mean cutting the coastal districts off- froni the scheme. !i n '■;: <■■""' ' '

Mi* Mai one, in a personal explanation, contended that Mr Griffiths had no ground for his latter contention. The amendment was carried by sixteen votes to ten.

Mr C. Young moved that if the carcases could be got to the ship by gravitation the site be restricted to within one mile of Motu'roa. This was lost.

i Mr E. Marfell moved that the southern limit of the area of choice be one mile south of Stratford. Mr Malone seconded. He said that giving a wider area of choice would make for unanimity when shares were being canvassed for. The motion was carried by eleven votes to ten.

Messrs W. A. McCutchan, Joseph McCluggage, E. Marfell, E. Griffiths, A. W. Budge, C. Young, W. H. H. Young, N. King, and W. G. Malone were appointed provisional directors to carry out the decisions of the meeting and to make arrangements for canvassing for shareholders.