HALCOMBE

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVII, Issue 221, 18 August 1937, Page 14

HALCOMBE

(From Our Own Correspondent.) HADCOMBE, Aug. 17. On Friday evening the directors of the Cheltenham Dairy Co. met district suppliers in the Jubilee Hall, there being about 30 present. Mr N. Jensen, who occupied the chair, apologised for the absence of Mr C. G. Cf Dernier, who is visiting the Old Country. The chairman said the company had had another successful season, though from the point of view of the producer there had been too much rain and too little sunshine. The resumption of milk-drywg operations at Bunnythorpe this year had somewhat lowered the output of butter. Quality bad been well maintained, the average grade being 94.25. He urged, suppliers to make even greater efforts this season to improve the grade, so that the full guarantecd price might be obtained. He would not discuss the merits or dements of the Government’s guaranteed price policy (he had his own views), but ho had to admit that thoy had carried out their intentions in this respect. The price paid might have been quite a good one but for the increased cost of production. With regard to local consumption, the chairman stated that beforo the regulations had been introduced to chock it, factories with a large local market had succeeded in making more profits than those which had a small one. This, the company’s 44th year of operation, had been a difficult ono with new conditions and increased costs of operating. The average price paid for all grades was 13.65 d. lhe pig farm at Makino had yielded a net return of £660 13s 2d. Mr E. Sinclair, speaking with regard to the pig farm, stated that the past season had not been a good ono for fattening pigs. It had been too wet and cold. They had sold 1193 pigs, 400 as porkers to the Feeding butchers. He congratulated the manager Mr H. E. Thurson, on his fine work, mentioning that the farm stock had won £l2l in. prize money. Mr E. Christian, supported ’by Mr J. Hamilton, deplored the fact that the Stanway, Tokorangi, Halcombe, ICakariki and Mt Biggs area had no representative on the directorate. Mr Hamilton, who has been nominated for a seat on the directorate said he had no quarrel with the present directors, but he felt that the representation was rather lopsided, some districts being more fortunate than others. Mr F. Boddy, replying, said that had ho been unseated last year, his end of the district would have 'been without direct representation. Mr J. Batchelar congratulated Mr Hamilton. Ho liked competition, and thought there was nothing in being returned unopposed. Mr I. McLennan moved that it bo a recommendation to thq directors that the company should acquire the services of a veterinary surgeon. Mr McLennan stated that the cost per supplier would be small, thcro being somo 900 suppliers. The motion was seconded by Mr R Elgar. Mr Jensen and Mr Sinclair said that, with such a wide district, travelling expenses would be high, and an efficient service would be difficult to maintain. Mr Boddy thought that if a workablo plan could bo evolved, the suggestion would be a good one. Mr Desmond doubted whether such a schemo could be mado self-support-ing, but ho agreed to obtain particulars of the methods and costs of the Rata Dairy Company’s scheme. The meeting closed with a vote of thanks to the directors. There was a very good attendance at the Kotahitanga Jubilee Hall for the Women’s Institute Group meeting. Mrs Davies, the president, welcomed the visitors. It was decided to hold the next group meeting at Stanway on the second Wednesday in February. The competitions are to be a child’s cotton frock and knickers, and a small boy’s shirt, plain apple jelly and gooseberry chutney. Mrs Bowater will do chairwoman, Mrs Marumaru convener, Miss Matthews, cooking judge, and Mrs Will needlework judge. A discus, sion took place on the question of members belonging to two Institutes, entering an article at both meetings. ■ It was decided that if tho article was to bo entered for a group competition it must be entered only for tho nearest Institute’s competition. Mrs Curtis rendered a song, followed by an address by Mrs Williams on Papua. A one-act play by Marion Junction members was much appreciated and after Miss M. Guy had sung- afternoon tea was served by the local Institute. Mesdames Carson and Ross’s pianoforte duet was followed by a one-act play by Sandon. Mrs Marumaru gave a very interesting demonstration of Maori arts and crafts. The competitions wero won as follow: Biscujts, Mrs Brack 1, Mrs Matthews 2, Miss 0 'Fergusson 3; oggless cake, Miss E. Fergusson 1, Miss 0. Fergusson 2, Mrs Schaeran 3; flannel petticoat, Mrs Tattle (Parewanui) 1, Mrs Brett 2, Mrs Johnson (Marton Junction) 3; knitted petticoat, Mrs N. Anderson 1. Miss E. Fergusson 2, Mrs Johnson 3. The meeting closed with votes of thanks to the judges and hostesses