THE FREEZING INDUSTRY

Taranaki Daily News, 12 November 1929, Page 13

THE FREEZING INDUSTRY

DEPRESSION FOLLOWS BOOM REVIVAL IN THE MEAT . TRADE. SUBSTANTIAL VALUE OF OUTPUT. BIG MONEY IN BOBBY CLAVES. For many years the freezing works have been the mainstay of Patea ao far as town industry and pastoral prosperity of South Taranaki are concerned and if they were ever closed down it would be an unfortunate day both for the-farming community and for the residents. The meat works had their origin in the early ’eighties. After the first boom due to the construction of the railway a period of severe slump set in on completion, of this work past the I town of Patea to Hawera and Stratford. Unemployment was rampant and trade became stagnant. A company of local settlers decided to embark on a meat-packing venture and erected works. The concern was known as the West Coast Meat and Produce Export Co. Ltd. Among the early directors ■were such well-known men as Messrs. W. Wilson (chairman), J. Livingston, J. R. Lysaght, R. B. Hamilton, H. F? Christie, John Gibson, A. Palmer, G. H. Norman and J. McLean. The secretary was Mr. T- Eyton. The establishment of the works led to a considerable revival of trade, but no sooner had business started than fire destroyed the premises and a further slump ensued. In 1888 the industry was again started on the present site by Mr. 0. W. Oldham, under the style of the Western Packing and Canning Co. This business was carried on successfully for about 10 years, a limited company eventually taking over control. Two further changes occurred in proprietorship, Mr. R. Darling and Mr. T. Thompson becoming owners successively. The latter had been manager of the Southland Frozen Meat Co. Ltd., and when he assumed control he embarked upon freezing. UTILISATION OF CULL STOCK. Up till this stage canning and packing had been the sole objective. It is said that the first man to adopt the canning and utilisation of cull stock was Mr. Darling, who also manufactured an extract of meat. The price paid for cull stock in those days averaged about 5s per cwt and farmers considered they were indeed fortunate to get even as much as that.

Messrs Nolan and Tonks acquired an interest from Mr. Thompson, but the concern experienced troublous times, and eventually it was formed into the present company, which assumed control of the works as a going concern on April 28, 1940. The capital was .£40,000.

Mr. W. D. Powdrell was chairman, and the other directors were Messrs W. Brewer, R. Bremer, G. Murtagh, R. H. Nolan, A. T. Wills and J. F. Williamson. Mr. W. A. Thompson was made manager. Mr. Powdrell remained chairman until his death in 1921, when he was followed by Mr. C. J. Hawken (1921) and Mr. C. D. Dickie (1921-1929). Taking over at the end of a season the company made a loss of £54 on the first financial year. Th© second and third year the. loss was £1463 and £629 respectively, but the fourth year showed a profit of £1794. The 1913-14 season was an unfortunate one, the company sustaining a serious loss by

fire and also suffering by a. drop in prices ea the Home market. The following year was much brighter, a profit of £19,711 being made after allowing for liberal depreciation and wiping out past losses. A keen demand for the company’s products resulted in the 1916 seasons being successful also, a profit of £8502 resulting. Prospects now were very good, and enlargements were made to the freezingblock and to the killing board. A block of flat land was bought for regulating stock into the works, and the steamer Waverley was purchased. Two more profitable years were experienced in 1918 and 1919, the profits amounting to £16,000 over the two seasons. EXPENDITURE ON ADDITIONS. The sum of £45,000 was spent on new buildings, engine-room, plant, and another steamer, the ill-fated Waitangi, which was wrecked at the harbour entrance in 1923. It was also decided to erect six concrete cottages for th.e staff, the town suffering a housing shortage at the time. The year 1920 netted £6762 profit for the company, but this was the turning point in the history of the concern. Like all other freezing companies it was caught in the disastrous slump of 1921, a serious loss being made in that year, followed in 1922 by a further loss on unrealised consignments of the previous year and an additional loss on the year’s working. The year 1923 would liave been better but for the lose of the Waitangi, and

the balance-sheet revealed another loss..' The company held its own in 1924, but; the shipping strike of -1925 was 'largely.;; responsible for a loss in that further losses were recorded in 1926 anaA 1927 to be followed by a profit in 1928,| after writing off the coastal • Waverley. The present, year has.nf-r; suited in a comparatively smalUldss, but henceforth many of the disabilities should not recur and th© careful management now by the present manager, Mr. A. liama, working profits may soon one© . more be enjoyed. Experience has.'been ? bought at a high price, but perhaps W knowledge gained may result in the

future being free of mistakes in methodl y: of organisation. .. ' i The plant, which covers an about four acres, and possesses, nearly < 109 acres of holding' paddocks, is .npw j; in a thoroughly' up-to-date and will be able to handle the output for many years to come. killing capacity is 3000 sheep and to 200 cattle per day. There is Storage $ space for 172,000 freight carcases. • ThlAf, was at the request of the increased at considerable expense .dutipg-g the war to meet the difficulties transport.' The company considered that they bad a national duty in respect which a solely proprietary con*,-*, cern would probably not adopt. LaSv..:.; year a new railway aiding was con--. 6tructe<r for the purpose of eliminating, unnecessary cartage, the econdmie® effected running into a substantiaLg amount. - ,' . u ,, : ->- To meet the expansion of trade tn 0,.% capital of the concern has been . in- yy. creased on three occasions, k in 1919 • £60,000, in 1921 to £lOO,OOO, and in 1923 to £195,000. ’ PORK AND VEAL FOR EXPORT. Two departments of considerable y value have been added during years. These are "bobby calves and export pork. The latter has developed since the establishment- of the .pig nool and promises to become a very profitable line. No less than 16,000 pigt.yy were handled this year either for ex<

port pork or bacon and it is anticipated that the number will grow rapidly each year in the near future particularly as dairying develops in the district. , The “bobby calf” business in New Zealand was pioneered by the Patea freezing works, and this has resulted in many thousands of pounds being put into the hands of Taranaki dairymen during the last three years. A total of 64,500 calves were handled at Patea last financial year, ’ the ' highest killing for one day being 3200. The existence of a farmers’ meat works in the district has. been a great asset to farmers even though some years have’showed a financial loss on operating. Without a farmer-owned company there is no doubt that stock prices would be much lower than they are and the concern creates sound and healthy competition. Even during the depression’ not a single penny was lost to farmers on their stock, the agreed price . always being paid. The community importance, Of the constant demand for labour may be realised when it is mentioned that a staff of about 180 ; men is-employed in various capacities during the season, and £38,000 is paid out in wagea for the year. The approximate value of the freezing works products for the past season was £306,000. . RECORD KILLINGS LAST YEAR. ’ The past year wag a record in number of animals handled, this being no less than -220,000 sheep,' cattle/ calves and pigs. Altogether since the present company has been operating the total number of stock handled in the 20 years is as follows:— Sheep .; 1,292,944 Cattle 173,950 Pigs ; 36,292 Calves 99,347 Totals 1,602,533 The following figures show the killings each year since the. present company commenced operations:—

Sheep year and lambs cattle pigs 1910 . 1,205 1.743 . 1911 27,764 5,260 167 1912 15,125 5,431 7 1913 47,186 7,699 29 1914 33,845 7.799 — 1915 37,944 13,352 —— 1916 43,794 13.181 1917 28,341 9,980 — . 1918 56,463 12,698 4 1919 76,810 11,759 1920 89,869 8,232 — 1921 58,875 3,245 1922 58,058 4,133 — 1923 54,610 6,818 536 1924 94,470 12,019 — 1925 . 99,195 15,075 1,446 1926 88,861 11.720 1,848 1927 125,713 7,762 5,452 1928 122,780 9,138 10,206 1929 131,976 6,906 16,597 Total 1,292,944 173,950 36,292 BOBBY CALVES. 1927 14,208 1928 20,587 1929 64,552 Total 99,347 PRODUCTS OF THE WORKS. Last year the products of the works were: Meat 4060 tons Tallow . 7'.... 744 caske 318 casks Wool 1000 bales Hides ...... 7000 bales Calf skins ......... 67,000 bales Manure 600 tons