Westland Cool Storage and Dairy Factory Coy.

Hokitika Guardian, 3 December 1923, Page 2

Westland Cool Storage and Dairy Factory Coy.

OPENED ON SATURDA Y. On Saturday operations began at the Central Dairy Factory, Meld Street. The Borough drain was finished only on Friday night, and an hour later the factory drainage was linked up with the earthenware pipe, and pr.-par,:-lioiis made for butter making. Duii’.g Saturday -lo cans of separated errant came to hand. This was Inotighe mainly from Kokatahi and Koitera i,;i, but fourteen cans were eonsigne 1 fi< in the Kumara district. I here were in all about 550 gallons of cream, Idii.ig ;t large vat, and this was sterilised, and yesterday manufactured into butter. About a ton of butter was made with the two churnings win a were necessary, and this was considered a very encouraging beginning as the notice to suppliers was very short owing to the uncertainty about commencing operations. The factory is now in full swing and additional supplies as duo to-day from Waitaha and intermediate places, as well as the Kokatahi district supply and that from the north. Mr 11. T. Parry, the managing director, hopes to he able to treat suppliers very liberally, and the price the company will offer i> one to attract the business. Mr Parry is very pleased with the beginning made. When he opened the Westport factory it was thought a good performance to make twelve boxes of butter at the first churning. Yesterday forty boxes of Imtter were turned out, and this average on churning days is sure to he a rapidly increasing quantity. The managing director considers that the central situation of the factory and iteconomy in production will give il an advantage ensuring success irom the outset. The beginning augurs well for the future.

Butter-making is the first undertaking of the Company. The next will 1,0 ice-making. This will be put in hand immediately. ’I la*re are orders lik'd already for supplies over the Exhibition period, and once the ice is available it will be in demand from butchers, hotels, and households generally. ice-making will be a profitable adjunct to the business. The first section of the freezing chamber is now all but completed. This is going to lie an adjunct of special advantage to the company, financially. The four apartments which are being erected ace thoroughly insulated on efleetive freezing chamber lines, and as soon as butler is stored in it, the Company will be paid full value lor the commodity by the purchaser. At the outset most of the Imtter will he manufactured for export, good prices being offered, hut as prices vary so the Company can control its output to ensure a payable figure to suppliers. The third operation of the Company will he in connection with cool storage, to lie followed by attention to the bacon industry both ill relation to curing bacon and in respect to freezing pigs for export. Suppliers who send separated cream to the factory will be able to reserve the skim milk for rearing nigs and the Inctory will take these over ultimately as they mature, either for bacon or freezing as tic market demands suggest. It will he seen that with these reserve

activities the factory can he of the greatest benefit to the district, and must in the long run bo a prime factor in adding to the quirked development of the district. The factory is built for the future trade it will have to do. Probably in less than a decade it will be found that anticipating the trade of the future as the Company has done, the estimate will fall short of requirements. But 11 ere is plenty of land for extension. It would appear that. the. Company has In ill wisely ami well, and can look to the future with every eolifidell-e.

The formal opening of the factory, is is proposed, will take place during the first week the Exhibition is open. 11 the ceremony could ho lifted in with the Ministerial visit in about a fortnight’s time it is not unilkely that the occasion will he arranged for then, and the event should ho a very important one on such an occasion, indicating that Hokitika and district fully realise the important service the East and Vest Coast railway can lie in helping to foster the pastoral resources of the district. Meantime Mr Barry and those associated with him are to lie complimented on the promising outlook of their venture, which should prove a material help to the farming community of the district.