FREEZING WORKS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2573, 6 August 1909, Page 3

FREEZING WORKS.

, MEETING AT WHAKATANE. The meeting which was called at Wha’katano on Saturday, July 24, in connection with the proposed establishment of freezing works in the district, was very poorly attended! The chairman ( Mr Tabb) naid that the directors were 0 f opinion that it was a flourishing district, but the response to the canvas was hardly uo to what they had expected, and they would like to see more shares taken up. The shares taken up in Opotiki represented £4420, and those promised in tho Whakatane County only totalled £1789. The works would bo just as important to the landowners in Whakatane as in Opotiki. and he would like to see people in Whakatane come forward with an equal amount to that which had been raised in Opotiki. In reply to a question the chairman stated that 40,000 sheep had been promised for the first year. In 1908 there were 75,000 sheep in the district, ami for one year tho increase, in Opotiki amounted to 10,000 sheep, and in Whakatane to 3000 sheep. He had been informed that in other places there had boon a difficulty to get a guarantee of sufficient stock, but after the works had been established an abundance of stock was forthcoming. The present trouble was not a shortage in tho amount of stock that could be raised, but in the means of finance. The estimated cost of the works was £IB,OOO, without allowing anything for working expenses. A small plant, he said, could be procured at less cost, but in tho minds of the directors the business would rapidly increase, necessitating a larger plant and discarding the smaller one.

The fact of the Home steamer calling at Ohiwa would benefit the farmers considerably, as they could ship their, butter and cheese direct to England without cost of freight between there and Auckland.

Mr Gordon said they had a perfect right to approach the farmers in tho Waikato to take up shares, as a lot of shares in the Waikato company were taken up in ■"their district. He also considered thaf a lot of Auckland business people would take up shares. The question of finance was a big one, but there was no reason to get downhearted because only £GOUO was taken up. There was a feeling that they were not sincere in the matter and they would have to show that they were. Fie thought that the only solution was to get a paid broker and give him a commission on all amounts collected. Air Ryan mentioned that when tho present depression had blown over, tho people would be in a better position to take up shares. The public meeting then concluded.