MEETING OF MILK PRODUCERS.

Gisborne Times, Volume V, Issue 105, 13 May 1901, Page 2

MEETING OF MILK PRODUCERS.

The meeting of milk producers held at the Matawhero saleyards dining - room on Saturday was, owing to the inclemency of the weather, but sparsely attended. Mr W. C. Walsh was voted to the chair.

The Chairman stated that agitation was evidently a good thing, as owing to certain steps taken the butter factory owner had conceded one half-penny a pound on butter-fat —so much for endeavour. The meeting really was called to view the whole situation as producers. These latter had, within the space of three years, built and equipped two factories, either of which was capable of manipulating the whole of the present supply of milk, and it was not right for them as reasonable men to allow the factory-owner to benefit from their (the producers’) toil and industry. Each man who owned or rented property workable up to a thirty-cow dairy had as much representative capital as the factory, and employed afe much labor. He was of opinion that those who were producers, and who quietly permitted the retailers and the factory between them to take half of the profits from their individual labors, were robbing themselves, their wives and their children, and placing in the hands of others the whip by which they themselves might be scourged. .As a fact the producer receives sixpence per pound for butter for which the consumer pays one shilling. On the proposition of Mr Tuohy, seconded by Mr Gallagher, it was decided to request that there be an advance of one penny per pound on butter-fat from May Ist to August 31st. Messrs Tuohy, Walsh, Gallagher, and Woods, were appointed to interview Mr McGregor in connection therewith. .. It was, after some discussion, proposed to form a Dairyman’s Association, for the purpose of taking into consideration the various interests at stake and obtaining all information re the butter industry. Mr Tuohy and Mr Walsh stated to the meeting that they would guarantee one hundred pounds each, and sixty cows between them in support of a Co-operative Factory.