The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING GISBORNE, JULY 14, 1903. WAIMATA DAIRY. FACTORY.

Gisborne Times, Volume X, Issue 941, 14 July 1903, Page 2

The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING GISBORNE, JULY 14, 1903. WAIMATA DAIRY. FACTORY.

Through the public-spirited action of Messrs DeLautour and McPhail the settlers of the Waimata Valley district have now an opportunity of directly or indirectly, engaging in the dairy industry. A first-class plant has been erected, with the most up-to-date equipment, and all that is required is the supply of milk which can so easily be obtained from the rich pastures of the Waimata. A little effort, perhaps, is required to get out of the beaten track. In the past the Valley has been given up chiefly to the growth of wool and meat, and the pastoralists can point with pride to what they have lupen able to do in that direction, but the dairying industry offers still greater potentialities for the district, and if the land-holders consult I their best interests they will have a I keen eye to the opportunities in that direction.' Just now the wool market has a bright tone ; but experience teaches that the market has a fickle tendency, while all the indications are that the land can be turned to more, profitable account if dairying is among the industries taken advantage of. A splendid opportunity is now offered to the settlers of the Waimata, without their being called on to incur any of the risk—it is such an opportunity as would be eagerly, seized in any district with such remarkable natural advantages, and it is to be hoped that the Waimata settlers will be fully alive to the opportunity arid at the earliest date avail themselves of it. It / may be that past affluence has prevented the pastoralists front ' being as keen in the matter as' they should be ; but when' once the advantages are fully Comprehended we do not think that anything of that kind will stand in the way. Dairying certainly entails an amount of continuous toil that is not necessary in the case of sheep ; but the return is correspondingly greater, and pastoralists who do not care to embark in the industry on their own account should have no difficulty in making such arrangements as will enable the requisite labor to be obtained on a profit-sharing principle. However that may be, the fact remains that through the enterprise of individuals special facilities for embarking on the dairy industry are offered in the Waimata ; it is to the interest of the settlers and of the whole district that those facilities should be speedily availed of, and we trust that such an effort will be made as will keep the factory working to its full capacity. 1 The settlers are now or can soon place themselves in a position to do this. The proprietors of the factory have not had it built for the purposes of speculative gain. They realised the capabilities of the Valley, and ’are now seeking the co-operation of their fellow-set-tlers in regard to the factory. The promoters deserve the warmest encouragement in their venture, and it is to be hoped that that encouragement. will be given in the practical form of keeping the factory working to its fullest capacity.