THE Kawhia Settler. FRIDAY, MARCH 30, 1906, THE DAIRYING INDUSTRY.

Kawhia Settler and Raglan Advertiser, Volume IV, Issue 252, 30 March 1906, Page 2

THE Kawhia Settler. FRIDAY, MARCH 30, 1906, THE DAIRYING INDUSTRY.

One would naturally think that when people are offered wealth instead of comparative poverty, and a life of ease in a few years instead of grinding on at hard work for tbe remainder of life, that they would jump at the chance, or at least take the trouble to attend a meeting to find out what benefits are offered. Tbe people -of this district seem to be built on strange lines. A few of those who have kept their eyes open and who have se n tbe enormous advantages arising from the initiation of the dairying industry in other parts of the colony—who Lave seen struggling farmers who could not do more than keep body and soul together previous to the start of tbe butler factories in New Zealand now Hmong the wealthy and independent settlers ; who hayo seen districts such as this in the simo state of financial despondency i goring into t'fliuance—have been trying t) rouse the settlers hero from their apathy, and recently asked one person to call a meeting and endeavour to lay before those interested tbe beneficial results which would accrue from an inauguration of the butter industry in the district. By advertisement a meeting was convened, and a few settlers who happened to bo in Kawhia attended, but not more than half-a-dozen came specially to be present. These half dozen managed to galvanise tbe rest into a state of serai-conscious-ness of what they are losing by their inertness, but it seems to have been only a. brief Fpasm of vitality. It was res: I<l that certain delegates wore to wait oU the settlers of the various portions of tbe district and while impress mg on them the benefits to be gained to find out how much support they would give to the movement. The delegates were requested to band their returns in by the 17th of March. Mr J. K. Newton undertook to te honorary secretary, and ably fulfilled bis arduous duties, corresponding with a large number of dairy factory companies and persons inter; sled in tbe dairying industry, receiving valuab/.

ioformation, besides promises and offers of support, to say nothing of guarantees from two firms to start the scheme straight off and finance thematter. One would naturally have thought that a full meeting would have resulted. Alas 1 the residents had once more relapsed into somnolence, only Messrs M’Cardle and Peargon, two of tbe delegates, up I What could be more dishearten ing than this? What shortsightedness ! It puts us in mind of the beggar who was offered some money as be lay in the sun and turned round lazily and pointed to bis pocket; be wanted it put in, but was too lazy to either take it or speak. Are the set tiers around the Harbour too lazy to stretch out their hands to take ? too indolent to ask ? It certainly appears