The Butter Industry

Feilding Star, Volume XIV, Issue 124, 8 April 1893, Page 2

The Butter Industry

» • THE CHELTENHAM FACTORY. | At a meeting of the Provisional Direc. ' tors of the Cheltenham Co operative Dairy Company, Limited, on Tuesday evening Mr Sawers, Government Chief Dairy Instructor, attenaea to give the Directors the benefits of his views on the dairy industry generally, and the proposed factory in particular. As this matter is attract- , ing great interest at the present time we give the substance of Mr Sawers re- ; marks — Mr Sawers congratulated the Directors , on the progress they had made in establishing their factory. He had been taken over a part of the district by the Chairman, and he was bound to say that he considered it admirably suited to the dairying industry. In fact, he considered it second to none in the colony. He was of opinion that within three years the Cheltenham Factory would be one of the largest in the colony, if it was properly managed. He had inspected the proposed site and considered it in every way suitable. There was good water and good drainage, two of tho chief requisites in a dairy-site ; and, in fact, he did not think they could get one better suited to their requirements. He would recommend them to go in for butter rather than for cheesemaking, for several reasons. Certainly cheese in itself might be rather more profitable than butter ; but when they came to consider the bye-products the profit would be on the other side. This was particularly the case in a district like this, where the farmers would go in for raising young stock. For that purpose the separated milk, especially if " pasteurised," was much more valuable than the whey. He would recommend them to put up a wooden building. Of course brick was none too good, yet wood would answer all their requirements, especially if they had a chilling chamber, and at the same time it would be much cheaper. He certainly thought it was desirable to have a chilling chamber. They need not, perhaps, have it just at first. It would be necessary to have a cool-room, when they built the factory, in order to store the butter, and then the chilling-machinery could be added at any time. The proposed plans were very good, nnd in every way suitable. At the same time the Department were having plans prepared with detailed specifications aud estimates for a factory of any size, and would forward them, He would be prepared, while the building was being erected, to superintend tde works to a certaiu extent. The Railway Coiumisfioners had issued orders to all Stationmasters to supply insulated trucks, such as were used for frozen meat, to all factories. So there would be no difficulty in gettling their produce to Wellington. With regard to the "distance that milk could be carried without injury, a good deal depended on circumstances. If they used telescope cans, and had their milk properly cooled, there would be no trouble about that. Every farmer should have a milk-cooler, which only costs about 5s or 6s ; and then he thought there would be no difficulty in bringing the milk, say nine or ten miles. It was probable that dairy produce would not bring quite such a good price next year as it had done this. A. good deal depended on the Victorian supply. In Victoria, as they know, a large amount of butter was made and sent home in about four months, which was the length ot their season. This large bulk of stuff coming in so short a time had a very disturbing effect on the markets. But if the Victorian Government took away the bonus which they now gaye, and they had already declared their intention of doing so, the quantity of butter would be largely reduced, as a great many factories had been established, in that colony, in very unsuitable places. The profitable price of butter for the com- | ing season would be about lOd per lb for first-clas9 factory butter in Wellington. He would not advise tbe Directors to push the establishment of creameries in the outlying districts for the first year, unless the people were quite ripe far them. It j the requisite monetary support were forth- j coming and a guarantee of at least 200 cows it would be all right, otherwise the cost would be too great. He considered the proposed basis of tbe company to be ferfectly sound. He had read the proposed articles and thought them very suitable. The cost of a factory would be about £1,000, including a manager's house. They could get a suitable engine and boiler in the colony. He would recommend a 10-hp. boiler with S-bp. engine. The churn which he would recommend could be obtained in Dunedin cheaper than it could bo imported. There would be no difficulty in getting a good manager, provided they made arrangements in time. He would, however, strongly recommend the appointment of a Managing Director. There were many little matters which should not be left entirely to the manager and which would cause endless trouble if they had to come before a meeting of Directors. These would be seen to by the Managing Director and reported on at the usual monthly meeting of the Board. He would be pleased to address a meeting at Cheltenham in about a for night's time if the Directors would make the necessary arrangements. He would advise the Directors to join the proposed New Zealand Dairy Association, as better terms could be made for freights, &o. Combined factories were able to give a guarantee of large quantities. Mr H. D. C. Marr, manager of Robins and Pierard's Dairy factory at Stratford, who had been invited by the Directors to report on the sites offered etc., said he quite agreed with Mr Sawers as to the site chosen, it could hardly be improved upon. He quite endorsed what Mr I Sawers had said on tha various topics broached. As to the effect of dairy factories in a district, where a factory had recently been started, land had risen 00 per cent, in value. It took two pounds less milk to make a pound of butter in the North Island than in the South. He considered this district superior to Taranaki for dairying. There was a better sole of grass for one thing and the season was much longer here. He was strongly in favor of all the year round working where possible, as was the case in this district. They need be under no misapprehension as to the growth ottbe business. Wherever he had been the promise of cows bad always been much more than fulfilled. In the district where he now lived they had started last year with a promise of 3'-»0 cows, and now they were receiving the milk of between OOOland 700, and ho could give several instances where the increase was even greater. He would recommend the directors to have the timber for boxes cut in June so that it might be properly seasoned. A vote of thanks was passed to Messrs Sawers and Marr for the information given, and arrangements having been concluded for Mr Sawers to address a meeting at Cheltenham on Friday, April 21, the interview terminated.

nig Co be beld in Cheltenham on that day Mr Sawers left yesterday by the mail tram for Wanganui, where he will make an effort to start again the Okoia Factory he will then go on to Patea where he will address a meeting of the provisional directors of new factory now being established there.