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The 1940s came in hot and droughty, the water supply from the McLaughlin River proved to be a problem, they eventually had to pump from where the present town weir is up the river.

There was also industrial trouble over wages and conditions, which did not help, and it was rumoured that some. of the opposition meat works paid some union members to come and cause trouble.

There were also rumours that stock purchases were less than prudent and of some feather bedding of prices paid.

At it's peak the meat works employed up to ninety people.

What a pity it did not succeed and now stands as a ghost of the past.

Submitted by Margaret and Leon Weston laweston@snowy.net.au

NIMMITABEL MEAT WORKS -
Annual Meeting of the Monaro, South Coast Co-operative Meat Co Ltd

The annual meeting of Shareholders on the Monaro South Coast Co-operative Meat Co Ltd was held in the Nimmitabel School of Arts on Wednesday afternoon, 27^th ult and was largely attended by shareholders from both Tableland and the South Coast.

Very strong resentment was displayed by shareholders at the decision of directors no to admit the press as although the company is a private one and therefore the annual meeting was not available to the press to report except by invitation, its activities are of such a wide extent and importance that it is look upon as a public concern. One leading and shareholder, after expressing his resentment, left -the meeting in discust. Dissatisfaction was also expressed at the exclusion of suppliers, some of whom had travelled considerable distances to be present.

So effective was this f eeling that suppliers from the South Co ast were eventually admitted.

The retiring Directors were subjected to much heckling, sarcasm and criticism for alleged mismanagement, the brunt of this falling on the Chairman Mr F W Handcock, who remained apparently unperturbed, preserving his good humour and geniality throughout.

The loss of over 20,000 pounds on the twelve months certainly gives ample room for criticism, though one might have to fill a position on the Board to realise the responsibility involved..

Experience has been dearly bought, but the Works should even yet be a profitable asset and everybody will wish the company a bright future.

Cooma Express (No Date) - Our Nimmitabel Correspondent.

PERKINS PAPERS Page 3274

Records the Express of Aplil 30^th 1936 as saying:

'The Nimmitabel Meat Works (at the McLaughlan River) are now getting ready for their first kill'

Cooma Monaro Express, Friday 18^th May 1951

The Monaro South Coast Co-Operative Meat Co-operative's factory at Nimmitabel is to be dismantled, and the buildings etc being sold piecemeal. At it's meeting last Thursday, The Monaro Shire Council discussed an offer to buy the staff quarters at the meatworks for erection in Cooma as housing for the staff, but rejected the offer owing to the high cost of dismantling the building, carting them to Cooma, and re-erecting them.

Now that the buildings on the factory site are being dismantled, memory brings to mind this 'White Elephant' of Monaro, on which the auditor reports a loss of over 100,000 pounds, was incurred.

Built back in 1938 it is understood that when the works closed down the overdraft was about 120,000 pounds, a large part of which was used to build and equip the factory with machinery. The factory only ran for a short time, closing down in 1942, with the huge loss mentioned.

Mr L P Holgate of Holgate and Clarson, of Cooma, Chartered Accoutants in a review of proceedings up to 30th

June1940, stated that up to that date 1,456 cattle were treated, 10,156 sheep 1,563 lambs, 449 pigs and 211 calves.

So that no one can say that the factory work did not get off to a flying start. But the picture changed swiftly. On 12^th August 1941, the Auditor reported a total loss of. 24,008 pound two shillings and seven pence since the commencement of operations.

Reporting on the trading loss the Auditor states: " The trading has resulted in heavy losses which appear to have been brought about by unprofitable purchases of livestock, irregularity in arrival of livestock for killing, heavy over-head expenses and difficulty in obtaining satisfactory markets for sales.

INEFFICIENT
ADMINISTRATION

Commenting further the Auditor stated: "The heavy losses appear to have been brought about by Inefficient administration caused by a lack of knowledge of the trade, excessively heavy capital outlay in establishing the Works, bad buying and unsatisfactory marketing of products.

The Rural Bank financed the scheme, under surety of the Government, so that the major part of the loss was borne by the Government, but local investors lost too. 26,209 pounds was the Issued Capital to 30th June 1941, and the whole of this Issued Capital was lost.

A railway siding was built at the Works at a cost of 1,510 pounds but unfortunately it is of little use seeing that the factory is being dismantled. However, the rails and the sleepers may come in handy, as these articles are now in very short supply.