CHEESE MAKING MOOTED

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIX, Issue 5355, 23 November 1928, Page 2

CHEESE MAKING MOOTED

•MEETING AT KEREPEEHI

UTILISING NETHERTON FACTORY.

A dozen farmers of the Kerepeehi district attended a mepting at the Kerepeehi Hotel on Wednesday afternoon to discuss, dairy matters. Mr D. Shilton was appointed to preside, and in opening the meejtipg he explained that the discussion concerning the desire for a factory in Kerepeehi had the N.Z. Cooperative Dairy Co., and the company had agreed to meet the settlers and go into >the proposition.

Mr W. E. Hale, local director, said that the companv was willing at any time to meet suppliers and give them any information possible. Conditions varied, so It was not possible to give very exact information on a cheese factory proposal, but Mr W. Y. Kirkman would outline the; company’s policy on the matter, and more information could be given in answer to questions.

Mr W. Y. Kirkman, factory superintendent, outlined the policy of the company in regard to new factories. The company would build a, factory on suppliers undertaking to underwrite the cost and, guaranteeing to supply fox at least five years. The method of arriving at the share basis was to divide the cost into the amount of butter-fat received in the first year, in Kerepeehi, from what he could see, the basis would) be between 351 b and 401 b per share. Until full information of what supply would be available was krtQwn it was impossible to say what the cost would be. A six-vat factory, plant, etc., complete, would' be about £9172, and for a fourivat factory £8732. The work would be let by .tender. The question of a suitable; site would nave to be determined by the location of the bulk of the supply and the facilities for shipping, drainage, etc. Dealing with the payout for cheese, •Mr Kirkman quoted figure? taken from the “Dairyman” of March 19. 1927, fqr all factories in New Zealand, showing that since 1902 on the average cheese had returned 1.439 d per lb above butter. The difference between cheese apd butter in the company’s . factories during the last aix years was 1.591<i. It was for farmers to say what the by-product was Wurth when deciding whether a change-over - was desirable. He pointed out that the cartage was a matter to be taken into consideration. To geit the best results farmers had to make up thejr minds to stick to cheese if they went in for it. It was r.ather strange that while there was an excellent cheeso factory at Netherton lying disused on account of a lack of supply, the farmers of Kerepeehi, anly a few miles away, desired to changp from butter to cheese.

At question time; Mr Hate explained that butter shares could be transerred to cheese of the same value. However, it was to be remembered that ,the basis was different. Butter ' A shares would; probably be transferred to cheese B shares.

Discussing th e Ncthqrton factory, Mr Kirkman explained that when a portion of the supply was diverted to butter the working costs per. pound of butterfat increased, with, the result that more suppliers left. The* factory ha,d been a really good proposition yntil the time oif the fire. A ferro-c.oncrete building was then erected, and about the time it was re-opqned the guarantee to supply expired, and with butter being the , better propositicji the supply commenced to fall off and the factory eventually had to be closed.

The question of re-opening the Netherton factory with supply frqm Kerepeehi whs then discussed. Mr Hale pointed oht that practically all the machineiry had been removed, but the plant equid be; replaced in, say, six weeks. The proposition appeared quite sound, particularly if some enthusiasm could: be worked up about Netherton. AH chemise factories ware worked as separate units and managed by local committees. It-would be folly to commence cheese-making in the autumn, as a ratio had to be made ip; -the spring months to enable a good payout to be made. This fact was ous to practical farmers.

Dealing wieh the prospects for cheese, Mr Hale said that jt was too early to size up the position. Last year was a very good one for cheese, and the prospects at present were equally bright except for. the fact that the Dominion production of cheese was 39 per cent, in advance of what it was at this time last year, and this incxeased amount would have an effect on the London market. The company’s own of dheese had shown art increase of 34 per cent, over last seWu, though no new cheese factories had been, opened. A five-vat factory would require the milk from 1500 cows. Cheese Shares could not be resumed or transferred to the butter branch until the group was financial and 15 per cent, over subscribed.

Mr Shilton’ suggested that the Netherton suppliers might join with Kerepeehi in opening” the Ne,therton factory, and it might be Advisable to appoint a committee to get in touch with Netherton.

'The meeting did not see the necessity for this, and the suggestion was dropped.

Mr R. L. Davies said that it appeared best to defer action until the autumn. -

It was decided to appoint a committee to watch over .the matter until next March, when the subject would again be discussed. Messrs G. Mqlntosh, D. and C. Pearce were appointed.

A vote of thanks to Messrs Kirkman and Hale for attending the meeting was carried by acelainatiqn, and it was decided that it be a recommendation to the directors of the company to go carefully into .the question of re-openiqg the Netherton factory.