THE KIA ORA FACTORY.

Gisborne Times, Volume VII, Issue 372, 22 March 1902, Page 2

THE KIA ORA FACTORY.

MEETING OF MILK SUPPLIERS;

MR McGREGOR’S OFFER ACCEPTED; A meeting of milk suppliers to the Kia Ora Dairy Factory was held at the Kia Ora Factory last evening, there being about 50" suppliers present. Mr D; Malone was voted to .the chair. Mr" McGregor informed the meeting of his proposals, which had been lam before the last meeting, and in regard to which it was resolved to adjourn for a fortnight. His proposal was to pay 3d a gallon for milk during June, July, August, and September, 7|d during October and November,-mud 7id during the balance of the season. Mr Griffin proposed that Mr McGregor's offer be be accepted. Mr Dunne seconded the proposition. A supplier asked if a further, advance could not be made. Mr McGregor replied that he coulc not possibly make a further advance. It was a big thing to pay ;}d extra. A Voice : It is a big thing to us. v,? Mr Malone asked if Mr McGregd, l could not pay less in the winter and more in the summer, and thus strikt an average price for the season. ■ Mr McGregor said that milk wj scarcer in the winter, and it was thei that a higher price should be paid fo; it as he offered. Mr C. Gibson moved as an amend ment that a committee be appointel to interview Mr McGregor in regari to a further rise in the price. H* thought the price offered insufficient. Mr Hughes seconded the amendment, Mr McGregor said the amendment was of no use. They had better taki the factory over .themselves. Soma • of the suppliers seemed to think hi . was making a fortune at their • penseMr Dunne: What is the averag price given by Mr McGregor for milt 1 during the seasqn ? !• The Chairman replied that the average price was a fraction over Bd. j, Mr McCullough disputed the Chair man’s figures, the latter replying hs figures were rough, and it needed cart* ful calculation to arrive at a details average; The Chairman was about to put tie amendment, when Mr McGregor said fc. was of no use, as he would not fur ther increase his price. Mr Gibson thereupon withdrew hs amendment, and said it was now h the hands of the co-operative party t>„ take advantage of Mr McGregor’s al-| ternative offer to sell the factory a : !j valuation, ) A supplier considered that a number of those in favor of co-operation might canvass the district, and see ,wh-,t support they would receive* Mr Roberts said that it was stated that it required 1000 gallons of milk to successfully run a co-operative 'factory. Mr McGregor had erected j creameries where nothing like 1000 galloiiq was put through, and he thought it was better if they stucjk.to Mr McGregor, Mr McGregor stated that his average the first season had been 421 gallons a day. A prominent supporter of co-operation said it would take 1000 gallons to run a successful co-opera-tive dairy. And then they said he had made his fortune 1 “ People had got a neck to say I cleared a fortune,’ 1 added the speaker. In response to the request of a supplier, Mr Lewis, who had been connected with co-operative dairies in the South, addressed the meeting. He said it was high time to co-operate for mutual benefit. He thought the offer of Mr McGregor, to sell the concern a splendid one. They would be very foolish if they did not accept it*

Co-operation was progressing everywhere. The suppliers -wanted all they, could ' get out of the dairy business.; There was a little more in it than what they got at the present time. In' various parts of the district cows were coming ,in, and he believed the number would soon be doubled. They) could not get a factory that was in a better position. He said that at Inglewood 300 cows made it pay, the suppliers getting 9d per pound for their butter fat. He admitted that the local settlers were placed at a diffldvantage in comparison with the West Coast, but thought they should be able, to get &ld as an average the year round. Every halfpenny the suppliers got for butter fat meant 10s a cow; for the season. Twenty or thirty cows would make a nice JiHle sumjjvf. He considered that the dairying industry was sure to spread throughout the district, and moved that Kia Ora factory be purchased for the purpose of starting a co-operative factory. Mr T. Griffin seconded the amend-? ment. " J Mr Brooking asked if the amendment was in order, as he thought- it was a' meeting of milk suppliers only. The Chairman ruled the amendment in order on the grounds that Mr Lewis had been invited to speak.. Mr Dinan said it was “of very little use putting the amendment. A large number were away, and in accordance with a notice posted at the factory all

absentees would be regarded as being in favor of the present proprietary system. There 'were very few of those present in favor of co-operation. The Chairman stated that to be quite correct. He further pointed out that there were a greater cumber of suppliers absent than there were present, and even if the meeting decided in favor of co-operation the absentees would be able to out-vote them. The Chairman : Have you withdrawn your amendment, Mr Lewis ? Mr Lewis : No, put it to thp meeting. ' .', •• ' ' The amendment was then being for co-operation and fourteen against. A large number abstained from voting.; The Chairman then declared the amendment lost and the proposition carried. .v-" A vote of thanks to the Chair- terminated the meeting.