THE DAIRY INDSUTRY.

Gisborne Times, Volume VII, Issue 360, 10 March 1902, Page 3

THE DAIRY INDSUTRY.

CONFERENCE WITH MR McGRI GOR RE CO-OPERATiON.

The meeting of country milk suppliers held at the Kia Ora Factory on Friday evening was largely attended, .Mr Owen Gallagher presiding. Mr McGregor said that the meeting was to decide whether. the suppliers would go on supporting the factory as a proprietary concern, or take it over ami run it on co-operative lines. He

referred to the meeting held twelve

months previous, when the fanners decided to go on for another year under his proprietorship. He thought it a good idea to make the meeting an annual one. With regard to the meeting last year, he was of opinion that

the present chairman had moved to the effect that the factory suppliers should go on fur a time as at present, and when convenient convert the concern into a co-operative business. The present accommodation would he insufficient for another season, but before enlarging he would like to ascertain the opinion of the majority of suppliers whether they would take the business over. He was willing to dis-

use of the factory at a valuation fair

to both parties. The season closing had been a very good one, and after careful consideration he had decided upon the following prices for the coming months : For May, June, July and August, !)d ; September and October, 73d ; and from October 31st till April 30, 1903, 7.'.d. The Chairman said it was a very fair offer that had been made for the disposal of the factory. Now would he an opportune time for securing the business and to form it into a co-ope-rative company, with Mr McGregor as manager. ~ . Mr McGregor said that he would he quite willing to accept such a position, but the managing director would, as elsewhere, he the person in charge. Mr Knight, of Patutahi, spoke in support of co-operation. This was a verv good chance to go in for co-oper-ation, and with this, one of the finest dairying districts in the colony, they had good chances, for success. Mr McGregor said that the plant was working up to its fullest capacity. Mr W. Walsh, Makaraka, said that under the proprietary system 33 per cent of their labor went to the factorv owner. In his opinion it behoved the farmers to take the matter up. Mr D. Dinan, of Waerenga-a-lnka, inouired of Mr McGregor an idea of what the value of the property would

liC Mr McGregor said he thought that, including the town creamery, £2,000 would clear it, and in answer to Mr Walsh, explained that the valuation.. would be made up from the cost price, less depreciation. ' Mr A. Tuohy said he was sure that if the farmers would take thp matter up they would get all tliat svas ‘lll it. I-Ie was quite willing to carry his nnlk six miles and make that the limit for

creameries-. Mr McGregor suggested that creameries must be erectod in all parts of the district. If this was not done the factory would go to the wall. Should the farmers decide to take the business over they must erect creameries m the places he proposed, viz., , [’e Ann, Ormond and Karaka. Unless this was done the owner of the otller fact ° r Z would take the step and Kia Oral would never he successful. Mr Tuohy proposed that the farmers of the district band together and take over the Kia Ora factory in their own Mr Knight seconded the proposition. It was understood .that Mr McGregor, would continue as manager. Mr C. Gibson, Te Arai, said that if co-operative dairying was not gone in for properly it was best left alone. Although yet a young man, he had, been over the colony a good deal, ana he found that the more cream? lies there were attached to the factory the better. But of course a creamery must not be erected where there was no milk. He thought it was far better to acquire a business that was in a payable condition than, to have to erect one and build up the business. With a creamery at Te Aral he wa certain they would get off per cent more cows on the list than at present, Mr Knight- pointed out that- the subject of erecting creameries would be left to the directors to deal with, and they would never establish one unti they were satisfied it would pay. He reckoned 1000 gallons would be re%lr McGregor stated that for the first year he had only a total of 800 gallons per day to start the factory, and yet there were people who said lie had been making a lot out of it. Mr J. Linklatcr, Waerenga-a-lnka, spoke in favor of co-operation, stating that he would pass by a proprietory factory, paying better, to support "ars&rs* «-»« never been a proper co-operative move ment here in past years, Speculation had been allowed, when the factory should have been kept to the farmers themselves. The Chairman urged that as co-op-eration was being successfully carried on in other parts of the colony, why

not in this district. Mr Roberts said that if they would all pull together, and stick to Mr McGregor as manager, they would make a good thing out of it. He esti mated that milk from over 1000 cows must be dealt with at the factory at said he had heard of a proposal to adjourn the meeting for a week. The absence of town suppliers ’"Mr™ TuShy‘“'moved the following amendment : “ That the meeting adjourn for a fortnight, in order to give suppliers an opportunity to think the 11U jlr Oman seconded the amendment, staling that his reason for inquiring from Mr McGregor the probable capital required was for the purpose of obtaining something more definite than had previously been before them. The Chairman announced the amendment carried by one vote. The meeting therefore stood adjourned till next Friday week.