BACON CURING INDUSTRY.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LV, Issue 13994, 27 August 1909, Page 1

BACON CURING INDUSTRY.

Some interesting information in relation to the bacon curing trade is furnished by Mr. W. Dimock, who has retired from the position of managing director of William Dimock and Co., Ltd. Mr. Dimock 'a first experience in the bacon curing trade was gained in England, and he has been connected with it in New Zealand for the past twentyfive years. In conjunction with his brothers, he started the first bacon factory in tho North Island, some twenty-four years ago, the situation being between Ngahauranga and Kaiwarra (Wellington), and it is worthy of notice that this was tho first bacon curing company in New Zealand to instal a freezing plant. This factory was unfortunately burned down about four years after its erection, tho result being almost a total loss. Messrs. Dimock Bros, then removed the scene of operations to Wellington, their factory occupying the site where the Evening Post printing offices now stand, and they continued in that location until the steady growth of the business made it necessary for them to seek more room, and they removed to Waterloo Quay. About ten years ago Mr. W. Dimock made a tour through England, the Continent, America' and Canada, in order that ho might study tho methods ill those countries, and see what advances had been made in the trade since he left England. Ho made a thorough investigation, and, after getting all the information possible, he chose what seemed to him to be the most suitable methods, and decided to build a factory that would be second to none in an}' part of the world. The outcome of this resolve *is the splendid factory at Ngahauranga, which was finished about twelvo months ago, under Mr. Diraock's instructions, at a cost of nearly £30,000, and which affords facilities for easily handling lOOt) pigs a day. Since the erection of this factory many visitors from all parts of the work), who have a knowledge of the bacon trado, have inspected the equipment and methods of the company, and they ' have unanimously expressed the opinion that it is the most up-to-date factory they hare seen. How about the public? Do they get the benefit of these improved methods? "Yes," says Mr. Dimock. The consuming public had always been considered as far as possible in tho matter of prices, and in proof of this assertion Mr. Dimock remarked that during; the time he had been in the bacon curing tiade in New Zealand no one, to his, knowledge, had made' more; enough to retire on in that trade, whilst he could enumerate quite a number who had invested money, m%ny thousands , of poun4s in some casns, in the business, in different parts of the dominion, and had lost all they had pat in. ' Mr. Dimock expressed the opinion' that the trade has now derelopjed to a point where an endeavour win have to be made to find markets outside of New Zealand. In the ordinary course of events the Commonwealth of Auatialia should provide such an outlet, hut owing to the high duty of 34 per Ib at present prevailing under the Australian tariff, New Zealand is excluded from that market, at any rate during all periods of normal trade. Ms. Dimock hopes at an early date to make a trip abroad with a view to finding an outlet for lis company's surplus products. As nay be 'well imagined in the case, of one who, during ids connection with the ttrde, has' been the pioneer in aU improvenients uft to date, Mr. Dimock does not lose interest, when he severs his connection with the company afimanagmg director and as the largest shareholder in the company. He intends to do all he cau in the future to advanoe the best interests of tho tiade he has been so hug associated with. . Mr. Baron, late sal « im»nag.» ot tho Chrifltchuroh Meai Company, Lt4.. ha* taken over the management of W. Dimock and Co., Ltd. /