THE PUTARURU PRESS. 'Phone 28 – – – P.O. Box 44 Office – – – – Oxford Place THURSDAY, JULY 5, 1928. TOKOROA FACTORY.

Putaruru Press, Volume VI, Issue 244, 5 July 1928, Page 4

THE PUTARURU PRESS. 'Phone 28 - - - P.O. Box 44 Office - - - - Oxford Place THURSDAY, JULY 5, 1928. TOKOROA FACTORY.

IT is unfortunate, yet in a sense not unnatural, that the directors of the Tokoroa cheese factory are once again up against a stiff propositionin the desire of a few to convert the factory from cheese to butter. A factory which has “ dry ” shareholders who do not receive interest on their money, and for whom there is no provision for resumption of shares, sis always liable to trouble from this source. Also the time always comes in the life of any such small cheese factory when certain suppliers feel that they are wasting too much time in the cartage of milk to and whey from the factory. There is no doubt about these facts, and it is well that they should be faced, as there is much to be said from the point of view of the suppliers mentioned. This, however, does not mean that conversion to a butter factory is the solution. We do not think it is, and in view of the straight comments made by the Government experts it is hard to believe that any supplier who thinks calmly on the matter can do else but agree with us on this point. Briefly the arguments against conversion are :'(1) The high cost; (2) loss in overrun ; (3) cheese has the most favourable m&rket for the future, and “ the best cheese factories will always beat the best butter factories.” The above are the conclusions of experts whose job it is to know these facts. Against these statements there is the saving of time lost in carting bulk milk compared with cream, which would be picked up at the farm gate. In the exuberance of discussion one supplier said he was prepared to sacrifice up to 2d per pound in his desire to save the time and cost of carting milk, but as this amount would more than cover the time lost little attention should be paid to such statements, which, as we have said, might not be put forward in a calmer atmosphere. The correct attitude to adopt is that of another supplier who, though favouring butter, emphasised the fact that in all such discussions the “ factory should come first,” as he put it. This of course means that no matter what personal desires a. supplier. may have he should put his district and factory first. We think this is the attitude of all, but unfortunately in unmindful moments the point is apt to be lost sight of at times. The difficulties ahead are by no means unsurmountable and it behoves the directors to be on the alert to see that everything possible is done to smooth out legitimate complaints as they are put forward. It may be that for those suppliers at a distance a system of community carting might be adopted, or tile work be done by the directors as is done in the Old Country. Similarly, as soon as is possible, arrangements should be made to resume or otherwise dispose of all dry shares, for, as we have already stated, these holders may become too big a burden in every way, and it might be more profitable to set aside interest and a certain sum per season for conversion of their shares.

Now that the matter has been thrashed out it is hoped that all will pull together for the benefit of the district, but it should not be forgotten that there is an equal responsibility on the directors to promote efforts to this end as there is on the minority who were defeated on the vote.