AKA AKA CHEESE FACTORY

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 5, Issue 138, 28 January 1916, Page 3

AKA AKA CHEESE FACTORY

Opening Ceremony Yesterday. The official opening of the Wai:ato Co-operative Cheese Company's ika Aka cheese factory, which has leen operating for some weeks last, was celebrated yesterday in he presence of several hundred leople, including the local sharelolders with their wives and childen

Heavy showers fell before the [unction took place and it was ound necessary to erect awnings n front ot the building for tbe belter of tbe public, but the leather cleared for tbe event and i pleasent time was spent, the ifternoon tea served by the ladies jeing much appreciated

Mr William Goodfellow, managirg director of the Waikato Coiperative Cheese Company, arrived jy motor from Pukekoha in company with tbe following gentlemen, riz.:—Mess-s J A Young, M.P. for tha Waikato; W R Greville, Editor "New Zealand Dairyman,'' Wellington; D Nathan, senior director, Messrs J Nathan and Co, Wellington; William Browne and O Payne, directors of the Waikato Co-operative Cheese Company, Tamaki and Haeriai respectively;

E WagatafF, chairman of directors of the Waihou Valley Dairy Company, Te Aroba; and AFC Daniel, architect, Hamilton. The visitors were receive:! by the local dirtc'orp, Messrs K Walters, Wrliam Louden and 3 Kidd, the cream-receiving stage being utilised hs a platform Mr Walters having briefly welcomed the visitors, Mr Greville said be had good reason for being proud that day as it was he who was primarily responsible for the factory. He pointed oat that although they bad a very capable manager Mr Harvey, a man with a big reputation, be could not make good cheese out of bad milk. It was therefore necessary that the milk, particularly tha morning supply, should ba cooled. Tbey would find it easier than trying to cool the person responsible for the purchase of cheese in England. He was a hud man to deal with. He remembered during their visit to England Mr Nathan tilling bim that any price would be paid tor good cheese. His reasons for being a strong enthusiast in favour of cheese were on account of the great competitor butter had in England —marganna -which would continue to bid for its place on tha market. Further, the quantity of cheese going into England at the present juncture wss 1 ss than it was ten years ago. Tbe price was accordingly better than butter, because only two countries, Canada and New Zealand, were supplying the Home market. There had been a decrease in the Canadian output of 32,000 tons, while New Zealand bad increased bar supply to that extent. The new factories in the North were suparior to thuee of the South, but there was a difficulty tn making cheese in hot climates, it had been proved by Professor Long, of England, that if the milk was cooled night and morning there would be an increase of five per cent in the value of cheese. He wished them every success in their venture, which he- prophesied they would not regret having undertaken.

Mr brown cocsi.ered that tie could lay clum to being one ot the olrte-.t settlers in the distiict and be could look back to the time when through the Waikato River higher than the swamp, twethirds ot the district was under water. Two other factories, Haerini and TamaKi, which were opsned rteantly, were under practically the aim? management as the Aka Aka factory, from the start the Aka Aka factory had made he considered those interested would do well, lie was confident of the ultimate success of the proposition, and he was certain that they would have a prosperous season with a better one to follow. Mr Nathan expressed bis pleasure at b.iog present, and returned thanks tor the courtesy extended him. He had been interested in chees; since it was first manufactured in New Zsaland, and considered the factorv very creditable and that it would be profitable. Like Mr Grevill?, he emphasised the necessity of taking a good raw article to the factory. He had seen cheese sold in England at Is and Is 3d per lb. They had a long way to go before their cheese would realise such prices, but he suggested that they would do well to keep the morning's milk in a separate vat from the evening's milk. The factory he considered complete in every detail. He was of the opinion that in four or rive years' time the Aka Aka people would be able to boait of foui or five similar factotics, while if the moderate advances were looked after they would be able to erect a butter factory clos2 handy and could change from cheese to butter, if necessary. In time to come they would have factonei tor manufacturing condensed milk, and also for tinning milk. It would be wise for them when they were making more money to send a representative to travel and follow up the methods adopted in America, Canada and HollaDd. He deprecated the actior of the Government in taking oven sucb a big proportion of the output of cheese factories at 7Jd per lb, when the cheese that day was worth «jd a difference of £l6 per ton, or 0n'16,000 tons of £240,000, roughly. Why should that [industry be specially taxed, he asked'.' Sucb should not be so. He wa3 opposed to class taxation. It was a special contribution or war tax on a particular section of the farming community and no doubt the 711 was a fair price based on the experience of previous years, hut if the cheese had to be taken why not a portion ot the wool and butter? No farmer grumbled at ha ving to -übsc-'be to the war funds, they of tlis.t best, Unit tannic Hid il d<s3C m untair that that [JhrtKular i, c< . 3 should hj« singled rut ;or that particuflr treatment Mr Havne :or-ratu,<Ud thosy r-snonaib.e on th»: erection ot ,uch I'fine factory, flt. Mtated that the naeiini factory during its three months operations had done well. Ti rising to speak Mr William rrodfellow was loudly applauded. He top d that they would profit by t h e good advice given by Messrs Greville and Nathan. Unfortun-

ately the erection of the building was two monthi b?binri, and the opening had been delayed by conations brought about by the war, and also by the weather. He considered that both Mr Hewsoi, the burkhr, and Mr Dani'ls, ihe architect, were to be congratulated in regard to the erection of such a first-class building. Mr Daniels, although a young man, bad been entrusted with the erection of many new factories in the Auckland province. It was for the supplier of the district to Bupport the factory at that higher quality cheese could be manufactured and the payments made second to none. He had been told that a satisfactory article could not be made from the supply from that district, but be was confident that it could be, and, further, that it would be equally as good as Taranaki cheese. If thsy plac:d rirst-chss raw materiPl with Mr Harvey, the cheese forwarded to the Home market would be second to none from New Zealand. He was sorry for their sake that the proposed amalgamation of the butter and cheese factories in the Auckland province had proved futile owing to two large factories having drooped out and amalgamated. If the scheme had been successful the benefits would have been tremendous; competition would have been eliminated and improved marketing conditions would have resulted by fixing the prices in London weekly. In conclusion, Mr Goodfellow pointed out that the success of the factory depended on the suppliers Mr Harvey endorsed the previous speaker's remarks with reference to the raw material, and said that so far it had been not affected by feed flavours. They had made a good beginning and there was plenty of room for development. He thanked the suppliers for the assistance rendered him during the short time the factory had been running. Mr Wa?staff was certain they had done the right thing in laving aside the manufacture of butt«r for cheese, and he was of the opinion that after three yeata the value of Aka Aka property would increase from £4O to £SO per acre t) £6O. He had seen land similarly enhanced to tbe extent of £io par acre where ha came from. His company last year paid out to suppliers Is 6d, and this year the supply had been doubled. The machinery in the Aka Aka factory was up-to-date with one exception, and that was that the whey should be separated. They could not afford to allow £6O to £BO per month to go down the drain, lo the factiry in which he was interested they were carrying out the process he alluded to, and tha results were very satisfactory. All the butter-tat did not go mto the cheese, and coneqeuently some of it passed away with the whey, which should rot be allowed. Mr Uoodfellow announced that it had been the intention of the company to 3 parate the whey "at the factory trom the commencement, but owing to the delay through the war the plant was behindhand in ciming forward. The company, he added, separated in their other two factories.

Mr Daniels acknowledged the congratulatory remarks passed in connection with the factory.

Mr Young, M.J'., returned thanks for the invitation extended to him to take part in the proceedings, and said that he had hoped to have seen the Prime Minister, Mr Massey, prcsnt. He had, however, received an apology from Mr Massey saying that owing to his presence being nec.B'ary in Wellington ri9 was unable to make the trip but he wished them every success and looked upon the f ctory as striking evidence of the progress of the district. Mr Young went on to refer to the necessity of carefully handling the raw material. If that was rot attended to, be said, they could not expect a high-class article. They were interested in the business for profit, not for fun, so they should follow the advics of the manager and proceed on fcientitic lines. The manufacture of sugar of milk was most important, as.it waß becoming essential for the feeding of infants. The chemists charged Is or Id 6d per lb for it and it could be manufactured for 4JI per lb. Through having to lely on Europe tor rennet there might be a shortage of that article, and the matter would have to be considered and steps taken to see if New Zealand could not be entirely independent of oth-r countries for a supply. It was his first tup to the Aka Aka swamp lands and he was very much impressed with the qiality of the soil. Whan the plough was put into it a wonderful change would be brought about, and later more lactones would be required. The district would prosper as the land was brought into a proper state. In reference to the point raised by Mr Nathan in respect to what he termed the "class tax" levied by the Government on the cheese producers, Mr Young said that that point wanted some little explanation, it was not really a tax on the cheese producer. The Government had commandeered a proportion «f the output of all cheese factories in the Dominion, tor which they paid a. certain price- 7Jd. That purchase was on behalf of the Imperial (jovernent and went to feed the troops of Britain and her Allies on active dervie?. That was a most important point as it assured tru< che?.se producers of the country of the certainty of getting for the residue—the main volume of their produce—shipping accommodation to get it to England which was the main market lor fixing the prica ruling lor crjeese. It would be little satisfaction to the cheese producers of New Zealand, he said, to know that cheese was worth a good price in London if they could not find the shipping space to get it to the market. Therefore, the suggestion that the cheese producer was specifically taxed as against any other class of producer was one that was likely to convey a wrong impression. Mr Young then formally declared the factory open

Mr Walters, on behalf of the shareholders and 811 interested, thanked the speakers, and on the suggestion of Mr Young cheers were g(vt,n for the chairman and tor the success of ihv factory

The Building.

The factory is built; entirely of wool and stands on a four-acre corner section, purchased from Mr If. Waltere, fronting the Aka AkaPukekohe Road. It is approached over a bridge across a tidal drain

and stands some few yards back on the section. In the main building are the making, curing, starter, testing and engine rooms and a depart ment for the storage of salt, together with a bunker for coal. The flooring stages and receiving roidway are all laid" down in concrete rendering the work of washing and cleaniug very easy. Adjoining the main building are the men's quarters, including bed rooms and a dining room, whilst the manager's residence is situated a .little further away and consists of six rooms, with wash house and trap shed. Provision has also been made for the storage of cheese, crates and coal in a shed on the wharf connected to the curing room and the coal bunkers by a tramway. The earthwork about the main building was carried out by working b'es arranged by the farmers. The machinery is of the very latest type, portions of it being manufactured in all parts of the Dominion. The boiler is a "Senior" and the engine a "Tangye." A supply of water, (1600 gallons) is obtained by pumping it through a two-inch pipe, into overhead tanks, while the water is made hot by the exhaust. By the installation of a "Berry" heater in the tubs decided economy is secured The salt room being at the direct end of the boiler keeps the salt in a thoroughly dry condition, a very important factor if good results are to be had. Four 850-gallon Parton vats fitted with the latest pattern Dunn agitators, capable of turning out 40-80 lb blocks ,of cheese, are installed, but so far only three have been used, the average daily output being 22 801b. blocks. One man can tip the milk from the carts straight into the vats.

The curing room, which serves a dual purpose, for both curing and packing, is being built on modern fines and will be strictly up-to-date. The walls are of three thicknesses and have yet to be insulated. It is fitted to hold four weeks manufacture of cheese. The drainage is all ejected into the tidal drain, the average depth of which is five feet. The cheese is taken from tbe factory by boat to Mercer, a distance of 23 miles, first via the drain and then the Waikato river. Two punts attached to a launch generally make the trip and go right up to the wharf, discharging their inward cargo ot coal and returning to Mercer with an average cargo of ten tons of cheese. Ihe enterprising All-British Shipping Company, Mr Ed llallett manager, h?s the contract for the carriage ot the cheese trom the factory to Mercer. Ttere are at present 13 suppliers taking between 1700 and 1800 gallons of milk to the factory daily.