NEW FREEZING STORE.

Wairarapa Age, 11 March 1922, Page 3

NEW FREEZING STORE.

DAIRY FARMERS' LA ' “Itl’l'i •>;. i-rec.-jug scores for butler, mid eo. I stores for cheese, are now owned and controlled by farmers at New Plymouth, Auckland, Bluff and Wellington. They are for the exclusive rise of i-o-Oji-’n*tiVo dairy iiii'riiiics foithe reception and storage of prorlm-.-against shipment. The latest, that of Co-operative Dairy Producers’ Freezing Company, is in Wellington. It. is not yet officially opened, but has been in operation for some weeks. Its completion was timely, as owing to delays in shipping, a certain amount of pro duce had accumulated in Wellington, and the works were, fortunately, so far advanced as to bo ready to receive it.

This important addition to the industrial buildings of Wellington is situated close to the Pipitea Wharf (in course of construction) and a few yards from the King’s and Glasgow wharves with their ocean steamer berths. The works arc connected with the railway service by their own siding, so that the produce can be run by rail right into the stores and under cover without any intermediary handling from the time it leaves the country station.

Accommodation is provided in the store for 35,000 to 40,000 boxes of butter and 40,000 to 50,000 erates of cheese. It is already holding 24,000 boxes of butter and 6000 to 7000 crates ef cheese. Wherever possible manhandling of the produce is avoided. There are electric elevators for both butter and cheese, and gravity rollers for use in loading and discharge. Every device suitable for the cheap and efficient handling of the butter and cheese in the store has been installed, and it is claimed that in equipment the new store is in advance of anything of the kind in New Zea-

and. All power is electric, direct cur■eut being derived from the City Council for the present, but ultimately he hydro-electric current from Mangatao will be used.

There are four floors to the building, which is constructed of steel and concrete. The machinery is of the latest type. The refrigerating capacity of each of the two machines is 75 ton-. The two Haslam air-compressors are cf 130 horse-power each. The electric equipment has been supplied by the English Electric Company. These new works also house Govern ment graders, who will deal with the produce coming in for export. The Co-operative Dairy Producers’ Freezing Company was formed some time ago to take over the freezing works on Waterloo-quay owned by the Wellington Meat Export Company, and also that company’s lease on the Thorndon reclamation. The old works are running in conjunction with the new. The secretary is Mr J. G. Harkness, and the engineer, Mr Cross.