The Dairy Industry

Feilding Star, Volume XIV, Issue 134, 2 May 1893, Page 2

The Dairy Industry

Last evening there was a large attendance of farmers resident in the Makino district at the meeting held in the Makino school, convened hy Mr W. W. Corpe. Mr Fry was voted to the chair, and he read the notice calling the meeting, and also briefly explained why they were called together. Mr Corpe, on being called on, said he had been buying dairy butter from the small farmers, and after mixing and packing had exported it, which, he considered, was almost ns good aa tho factory product During last session a Bill was passed which compelled him to brnnd the boxes " Blended Dairy," and this class ot butter wns put down in London as inferior. He considered ihe Bill unjust, and wrote to Mr McKenzie, Minister of Agriculture, making suggestions, but the Minister did not reply. Some farmers were too far away lo take their nulk to a factory; and on separator dairies the word " Factory" should be allowed. Nothing but tbe factory product would sell at Home now, and it was useless to go on as in the past. He thought the Government were very much to blame in not providing belter facilities, and contrasted the treatment received by farmers in New Zen bind and Australia from their respective Governments. In the bitter place butter producers were al« lowed cool storage and carriage by rail free, besides a bonns, while in New Zealand all the assistance- tbey received was prohibitive freights, and it was with the greutest difficulty that they could occasionally get suitable trucks (or transport. Small farmers were not wealthy, nnd they deserved more assistance. He did not believe in subsidies ; but what they I wanted was cool, welUventilated trucks for transport, and reduced freights. It j was outrageous to have to pay 40< a ton to Wellington. On one occasion ho had had two boxes stolen at Palmerston through haying to leave the doors of l!ic trucks open for ventilation Greater pressure should be brought to bear on the Government, and this matter should be brought under the notice of candidates for Parliament. Pasture was not better in Australia, and butter was never ex* posed to a greater temperature than 40 deg , and this was the secret why Australian butter was better in quality than in New Zealand. If the Government and the Railway Commissioners looked more to farmers than a surplus exports would largely increase. Mr Corpe iheu asked if those present would guarantee a sufficient number of cows to keep a factory gome opposite Makino siding, where he already had appliances. Mr Fry read the conditions required by Mr Corpe, which, briefly, were — 3d per gallon of 1 lit would be paid for the milk, and tbe skim-milk could be taken back free by the producer. Milk to be in the factory by 9 o'clock every dav except Sunday, when no milk would be taken. Cans to bo provided by producer. Tbe chairman then stated Mr Corpe would answer any questions. In reply to various questions, Mr Corpe said lie wanted 2' 0 cows, which would probably give 500 gallons a day. He would take milk in winter if sufficient to kei-p the machinery goinc was provided. It took 2(ilb of milk, at 10 per con', test, to make a pound of butter, which means 7 J per lb. He hoped to sell some fresh butter in Wellington. The factory-product was always the same in quality, and there was not the risk with it. Any average cow would give 10 per cent of cream, and less than that would not pay. He would take separator cream, but not dairy. In Auckland tbey paid by results, but, as tests were yery costly, he could not see his way to do so at present. Twenty to twenty-five gallon cans cost from 25s to 355. Milk could be conveyed five miles without injury. Mr Duncan said he knew of milk being conveyed as much as thirteen miles and then being kept for twenty-four hours. Mr Corpe said the nights were warmer here than in Taranaki. Twenty cows should bring in £20 per month, that would be 22 libs of butter a day, leaying a profit for him of Id a pound to pay all expenses, and he could work 2000 gallons for the same expense. He expected to get 1000 gallons a day during winter at his factory in Campbelltown, where he would start about the first of September. Mr Knowles asked if any shipping company had been asked to run to the Cape. Iv reply, Mr Corpe said he had sent, about two years ago, a few tins by I Stevens' process to India, Cape, China [ and Fiji, from wbich latter place all he got was a 6d stamp, and factories were being started at the Cape. He would give up to 6d for best quality of dairy butter if the separator was uot started. If they got £8 to £10 per cow it would pay better than sheep. Mr Duncan said Mr Corpe had done more for the district than any other man, and he proposed tbat his offer be accepted. The following persons gave in their names as willing to guarantee cows : — Messrs Duncan, J. Humphrey, L. Holden, Knowles, F. Berry, D. Sutherland, Apel, and P. London, amounting in all to 106. Mr Corpe stated tbe list would only be left open till Saturday, after which date the idea of establishing a factory at Makino would be abandoned if tbe required number was not forthcoming. A vote of thanks to the chairman terminated the proceedings-____m_-b_bbb_bbm_-M