GISBORNE FARMERS' FROZEN MEAT COMPANY.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 11420, 28 November 1904, Page 5

GISBORNE FARMERS' FROZEN MEAT COMPANY.

(Per United Press Association.) GISBORNE, November 26.

At the annual meeting of the Gisborne Sheep Farmers' Frozen Meat Company 'the report disclosed a very satisfactory state of things. The company's operations have been largely extended. A dividend at the' rat« of 5 per cent was declared, with a bonus to shareholders of ljd for every sheep or two lambs, ,the property of the shareholder, received at the works during the year, one head of cattle to count as twelve sheep. At a meeting of the Gisborne Sheep Farmers' Company, a honorarium of i>2so waa granted to the chairman (Mr J. A. Delatour). In the course, of his remarks, the chairman said a matter for.conjfratulation was that the stock of sheep in the whole district has been more than maintained.' In fact, take the three counties together, we have got a, substantial increase of between 60,000 and 80,000. Other portions of the colony have not been so fortunate. We find there is difficulty in obtaining cargoes for steamers in the south, and we are singularly fortunate in having vast numbers of stock, not only held but increasing, and with every prospect during the next few years of a much larger increase, as the country- is developed. Large areas of bush have been broken in, and more stock is required.

Mr Lysnar, a director, urged the necessity of farmers assisting the company by spreading, out their stock deliveries throughout the .year as much as possible. At present the tendency was to crdwd stock into the summer months, and that made it more expensive for the working of the company, and also assisted to disorganise the prices of stock at Home. T-he^market was overdone at one time, while at another it was bare. The company aimed at encouraging farmers to ship Home^ on, their own account, and about two-third? of the sheep sent Home last year by the company went on farmers' own account. They wanted to increase that proportion. The winter rates were from June 1 to December 1, and the farmers , then got a reduction in freights- and interest cHarges. So it was to their interest to bring their stock in during 4 this • period.