BACKS’ PENINSULA FARMERS' ASSOCIATION.

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2240, 3 May 1881, Page 2

BACKS’ PENINSULA FARMERS' ASSOCIATION.

A meeting of the committee was held on Saturday at the Head of the Bay. Present— Mr O. McDonald (president), Mr Barnett (vice-president), Messrs Hunt, Jones, Kingston, Vogan, and the hon. secretary, Mr J. Burberry, and a considerable number of members of the olnb. Letters wore read from the New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Company, also from the Lyttelton Agency, respecting the weight of cheese forwarded by the Orari. In reply to Mr Barnett, the secretary stated that about 55.5301 b. of cheese wore shipped for London by the Orari. Mr Duxberry drew the attention of the committee to the lecture delivered in Christchurch by Mr Bowron last week, which was followed up by an article in the “ Lyttelton Times ” on cheese-making and cheese factories. He considered that it was utterly impracticable to establish cheese factories on this principle on Banks’ Peninsula. The heat on a summer's morning would spoil the milk before it could be delivered at the factory, and what provision could be made to prevent fraud in adulterating milk. He considered that a far bettor quality of cheese could be made at the home dairy than at the factory. Already a factory bad been tested at Kaiapoi, and it had failed. Factories could not turn out a first-class article, while a dairy like Mr Goodwin's at Pigeon Bay could obtain a prize at the exhibition. Mr Cowron had suggested things in his lecture such as temperature, packing, &c., that the association had already provided for; so it had come second-hand. What they wanted was a more uniform size in cheese, and dairymen to give every attention to produce a good article, and they would find that they need not trouble themselves about factories. The President thought that factories may be established at some future date in the larger districts, but it would not bo practicable for some time to come. He would like to have the opinion of the members in reference to the bonus offered by tbo Government. He hardly thought it fair to the district, ps the privilege could only be secured by those districts outside the Akaroa County where good roads existed, and factories could be practicable. He did not think that one district should be favored more than another. Mr Hunt thought that the Government should ha written to through their member, Mr Montgomery. Mr Barnett, the vicepresident, said that if the Government were applied to and the facts laid before them he believed that they would willingly grunt them the same privi--1 leges as other districts. The Government had no doubt offered the bonus in good faith. No doubt they had been misinformed and influenced by some party interested in cheese factories. Ho thought it better for the secretary to correspond direct with the Government. With ell deference to Mr Montgomery who had taken a great interest in the movement be was inclined to think that a direct correspondence with the Government would have as much weight os through their representative. Ho had called on the agent for the s.s. Durham that was expected in port shortly, and had been informed that they had advised their London agents of the importance of lilting up a room with refrigerating appliances to accommodate the exporting of butter and cheese direct from Lyttelton, Information should at once be applied for, and if the Government would give them an equal privilege, they could no doubt forward double the quantity required by the Government to secure the bonus. He would support the motion of Mr Duxberry to get all the information from the shipping companies and the Government, unci then call a public meeting in Akaroa to discuss the matter. The following resolution was then put and carried : “ That the Government bo communicated with, with a view of ascertaining whether they would extend the operation of the bonus offered to the Farmers’ Association, owing to the impracticability of the footory system being adopted on Banks’ Peninsula, and lot competition ae to value obtained bo the basis of success.” It was proposed and carried—“ That the secretary be instructed to call a public meeting in Akaroa to consider the question of bonuses and puss resolutions after replies are received from Government, agent of s.s. Durham and New Zealand Shipping Company.” The secretary was also instructed to obtain information from other farm associations and also from their own district os to the amount of cheese made, number of cows milked and calves roared in one season in the different districts. The secretary was also instructed to convey the thanks of the association to Mr Montgomery and Mr Oostor for the interest they had taken in the first shipment of cheese. The secretary read a circular from Mr J.* Cook on consignments of butter to London* Some accounts wore passed for payment and other routine business got through connected with the club, and the meeting adjourned.