Co-operative Dairying.

Gisborne Times, Volume VI, Issue 193, 22 August 1901, Page 3

Co-operative Dairying.

To the Editor of the Times,

Sin, —It was with much satisfaction that I saw assembled at tho Matawhero school such a large and interested meeting, of persons connected with tho milk industry, and it gave me some food for reflection when I viewed the amount of capital and labour involved. There are some eighty contributors, principally families representing at least eighty thousand pounds. It was also gratifying to see that at last they took some interest in their own industry, and conceived the idea that there might be something more in it than they have been obtaining. Tho question with most is how to secure tho greatest possible benefit with the least risk. My plan would be to ascertain the amount of butter which is likely to be made, and call for tenders for tho output, for, say six months (in Auckland and Wellington) from any given date delivered on the Gisborne wharf. Deduct from this the cost of manufacture, and all contingencies, and yon have tho net results of your labour. Much of tho cost depends on your output. One thousand gallons would cost very nearly as much as three thousand gallons. The cost of buildings and machinery would be the same ; cost of labour the same. The only difference would be in tho firewood. If all the milk wore put through one factory tho output would bo somewhere about fifteen or sixteen hundred lbs daily for six months. Tako loOOlbs and ascertain cost of manufacture and packing. p „

I have endeavored to show the cost of manufacture, and if we sold the output of the factory for six months, we would have no worry or care, only to secure a really first-class article, and I think that the enhanced valuo of our returns would warrant each of us to endeavor to secure the best possible article. Hoping that you will give the above your most earnest and careful consideration, endeavouring to obtain the greatest good for greatest number, —I remain, endeavoring to succeed, W. C. Walsh.

£ S. d. Building 800 0 0 Engine and refrigerator ... 600 0 0 Churn, butter table, and cream vats 70 0 0 Milk vat and scales 20 0 0 Extra pipe for refrigerator, separated milk vats, pumps, and weighing machine 100 0 0 Two 500 gallon separators... 190 0 0 Total 1780 0 0 Cost : Cost of labor, daily 1 0 0 Firewood 0 15 0 Interest on T1780 0 5 4J Depreciation on same 0 5 4] Packing 30 boxes 1 10 0 Total i 15 84 Manufacture of 1500 lbs of butter at Jd 4 13 9 Credit in favor of factory ... 0 18 9