Te Rau-a-moa Dairy Company.

Kawhia Settler and Raglan Advertiser, Volume IV, Issue 208, 12 May 1905, Page 2

Te Rau-a-moa Dairy Company.

On Saturday last a meeting of suppliers and tbose interested in the above company was held at tbe residence of Mr J. Randall. Tbe settlers assembled together on the 22nd alt. to ditcuss tbe prospects for tbe next season, and after the pcsiti- n had be.n lucidly explained by Mr Boesen, it was decided to adjourn till May 6tb, to give those interested time to make up their minds on the matter. The attendance on Saturday night fully 80, showing that the people most interested had tt last awakened to a sense of their responsibilities—not only to the company and themselves but to every person who holds land in vicinity of tbe harbour, as if the factory bad closed down it w ;uld Lave been » slur 1 on and a set-back to tbe whole of tbe Kawhia district. Mr J. G- Parkinson presided and the meeting was very orderly. The matter was discussed at length, and eventually Mr Ormsby moved and Mr Hoffmann seconded, “ That the factory be carried on next season,” which was carried unanimously. It was recognised that the bad state of the roads were in a degree responsible for the short supply of milk, and it was unanimously agreed that the Government be urged to open the Te Kiki, Pironga West and Ukimu roads from section 10 into Te Rau-a-Moa. Tbe following cows were guaranteed for next season :—Mr Wiley 25, Mr Hoffman 15, Mr Douglas 20, Mr W. Lorenz 15, Mr J. Ormsby 20, Park inson Bros 80, Mr Shaw 20, Mr Honere 10, Mr Judd 15, Mr Evans 10 T. Ormsby 20, A. Ormsby 30, T. Lirenz 10, F. Fyvey 12, F. Barton 18, Mr French 20, T. Parkinson 15, J. Lasky 8, Noonan Bros 50, Mo watt Bros 15, Mr Linwood 5, Me Easy sene 10. |lf these cows are nut milked each settler has agreed to pay towards the working expenses. It was decided

Tbe meeting then adjourned.

We have been handed the following letter for publication : “ Sir, —Permit me to contradict, through the medium of your valuable paper, the false and absolutely unfounded rumours that are current re the-Te Rau-a-moa Co-operative Dairy Co., Ltd. There are, unfortunately, in oar midst some individual or individuals, who are incapable of manag-ing-their own affairs, and, like the dog in the manger, they don’t wish to see any one else get on. Truly, Sir, the factory is not the success that it should be, but this is attributable to the’individuals who are always ready to pick holes in the concern instead of trying to build it up. For instance : A person remarked to me the other day that he bad heard that the company was helplessly involved, and that £BOO had been spent which the directors were unable to account for. This is one of the many unfounded and misleading statements khat are being circulated, and I need hardly say that it is absolutely incorrect. Financially the company is in a good and sound position ; the only drawback is tbe very low supply, and the burden has been too great for tbose who have had, as it were, to carry the factory on their shoulders. If the non - supplying shareholders had kept their word and supplied what milk they could, and all went into the concern with a will, tbe factory would have been an unqualified success. One often meets with the following remarks when discussing factory matters : “ Why don’t you pay out more for the milk ? We would supply then.” Now, anyone with common sense, looking at the subject from a co-operative point of view, would not dream of asking such a question. !I am afraid that if the directors paid out what soma would-be suppliers would like, the company would, as stated by some shallowminded persons, be hopelessly involved. It seems hard to impress on some people that the payments to suppliers incroas)’ as the supply inc *e ’«e •• At ft meeting held on the 22ad ult. to discuss tbe prospects for next season, the statement for the past season’s transactions showed that tbe operations had been successful, and quite the contrary to what some had bear 3. Although the payments to the suppliers were low, sufficient was kept back to cove- the working and general expenses. The suppliers at the beginning of tbe season received 6d, and 5d at tfie latter end. Qf course these amounts were not encouraging, but an increase in the supply would have brought about quite a different state of affairs. Those present at the meeting expressed surprise upon hearing the real facte of the case. Tbe supplying and genuine shareholders are the ones who have had to bear the burden, and the sooner the non-supplying shareholder ia brought to task the better it will be for all concerned. Finally, I may say that all tbe company requires to make it a success is an increase in the supply, and if all who have tbe welfare of the company at heart will employ their energies iu this direction, Instead of misrepresenting and putting obstacles in the way of the company, things will in future go along smoothly.—Yours, etc., J. A. Ormsby, secretary Te Rau-a-moa Co-operative Dairy Co., Ltd.”