TWENTY YEARS AFTER

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 2, Issue 135, 13 March 1940, Page 5

TWENTY YEARS AFTER

RANGITAIKI DAIRY COMPANY'S FIGURES ORIGINAL OUTPUT SQUARED Commencing in 1919 with the manufacture of 61 tons of butter, , the Rangitaiki Plains Dairy Company has grown into the largest independent concern of its kind in New Zealand. Each year has seen a steady increase in the output of the factory, reflecting the development of the district and confirming the optimism and confidence of the com party's founders, until, in the 193435 season, the original output was squared, the company manufacturing 61 Ibns to each of the 61 tons turned out in 1919. The Rangitaiki Plains have developed tremendously in the last twenty years, and, with scope for further improvement, the future should see more gigantic strides on the part of the Dairy Company. Early in the Company's history the directors decided on a move which has since proved of inestimable value to its suppliers. That move was the formation of a Veterinary Department, the establishment of which provided the shareholders with free service and advice concerning the well-being and improvement ol their herds. This service, until recently unique in New Zealand, has been used fully by the suppliers and to no small extent has it been responsible for the rapi'd growth of the company. Pattern Company. Through its originality in establishing the Veterinary Department and an accompanying Laboratory for bacteriological research, and tho building up of an added asset in the model pig farm, the Rangitaiki Plains Dairy Company became known as "The Pattern Company" and no greater tribute could be paid. The largest single unit co-opera-tive concern in the Dominion, the Company, the expansion of which has far exceeded the optimism of its promoters, will grow with the Rangitaiki Plains and should the growth be at the rate accomplished over the last twenty years an extremely prosperous future is assured. Increase in Output. As previously stated the output in the 1919-20 season was (il. tons. This was more than doubled in the next season when 131 tons of butter were manufactured. 352 tons was the figure for 1921-22 and 573 was recorded for the following season. Increasing to 706 in 1923-24 and 942 in 1924-25, four figures were reached in. the succeeding year when the output was 1029 tons. Thereafter the Company increased its tonnage by approximately 3UU tons per year until 1929-30, when the figure reached 2334. 1930-31 saw a jump to 2514 and in 1931-32 2983 tons were manufactured. The following season saw the 3000 mark well passed when the output reached 3402 tons. 1933-34, 1934-35, 193536, 1936-37 figures were, respectively, 3674, 3726, 3662 and 3913. In tiie 1937-38 season the supply to the Arawa Dairy Company was taken over, the increased output due to this being about 700 tons. In addition there was a small supply available from the Tc Puke area but this made little difference. A record figure was established in this season, 4832 tons being manufactured. Probably owing to the severe effects of an extremely dry summer and autumn, when production all over the country fell alarmingly, the 1938-39 season saw the first decrease registered by the company in annual output, 4059 tons, or a drop of 773 tons from the 1937-38 figure. There is little left of the present season but indications are that the output will be up by about 300 tons over last year's figure.