DAIRY MEETING.

Matamata Record, Volume VI, Issue 439, 24 May 1923, Page 4

DAIRY MEETING.

OF VVAOTU SETTLERS. A meeting of settlers of the Waotu district was held on Mr. P. J. Nathan's Waipa estate at Waotu on Monday. This was attended by Messrs'. E. C. Banks and M. Shaw, representatives of the New Zealand Dairy Company. A discussion took place as to the terms and conditions under which the company would erect a creamery and casein plant at Waotu. Mr. Shaw addressed the meeting on the usages of casein, slating that at the price to-day a payment of ?>d per pound butter-fat over the payment, for butter could be obtained through, the manufacture of casein. It would be necessary, he said, for the suppliers to take lip additional casein shares. It was estimated that a factory would cost approximately £2-100. In order to make it a thoroughly payable proposition the supply from 700 cows would be required. The suptil iers would be required to take up shares in proportion to the number of cows that, would be milked. If a creamery were erected the suppliers would not have to contribute towards the cost but they would have to defray lh" running expenses and ths cost of cartage to the railway, ff a nayment. of -'3d per pound could b" made Id per pound butter-fat would . be deducted for the payment of share capital. The company would need a guarantee of supply for four years. In reply to Mr. Banks Mr. Shaw stated that he could not give any exact figures as to the expense of running a creamery without first knowing the amount of the supply, but if all the dairymen from the Waotu district supported it he thought the cost would be in the vicinity of 3d nor pound butter-fat. Mr. P. .T. Nathan 'offered a suitable site on a 90-years' lease at a nominal rental with the condition that it was to be continuously used in the interests of dairying. Mr. Nathan also spoke favourably ■ regarding the future prospects of casein. He stated that there was an unsatisfied demand for this commodity and he confidently expected the value to increase. New uses were being found for casein almost everv day and its possibilities were practically limitless. fn a general discussion which took place the bad slate of the roads was mentioned and it was doubted as to whether the roads could carry the traffic to a factory or creamery. A motion that a committee of three be set un lo canvass the district was put to the meeting and the voting was even. The opinion was voiced, however, that other dairymen who wove not present would r vote against the proposal, so that the motion was dropped. It was the general opinion of the meeting that the casein proposition should bo kept in view until such times as the roads were made (it for the traffic. (Continued in Next Column.)

Mr. Nathan, in replying to a vote of thanks lo the chairman, stated that he had given careful thought to the future payments for butter and it was his opinion that the average payment for the. coming season would be'in the vicinity of Is Id per pound. A proposal by Mr. Nathan that the suppliers remain with the New Zealand Dairy Company was carried unanimously.