DRIED MILK.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 7, Issue 389, 5 July 1918, Page 2

DRIED MILK.

WAIKATO DAIRY COMPANY'S SCHEME. MEETING AT TUAKAU. A representative slathering of about CO suppliers and farmers interested in the much-discussed dried milk proposals assembled in the Publio Hull. Tuakau. at the invitation of the Waikato Co-operative Dairy Company, on Tuesday evening last. Mr. Dynes Fulton, a director of the Company, presided, and was supported on the plationn l». wesstfl. W. Goodfollow (maiuiMUi.y director) and J. Clark (director). The chairman, in briefly opening the proceedings, paid a high tribute t.. the ability of Mr. Goodfellow, who. he said, had throughout the Auckland province and elsewhere made it pos. silde for the smallest dairy farmer to participate in Hie production of Imtter-fiit. and who. further, was the pionioter of a recent proposal to manufacture dried milk, which was likely to revolutionise the dairying industry. (Applause.) THE BITTER INDUSTRY. Mr. Goodfellow, who. on rising, was -reeled with applause, first gave a review of the last two butter seasons, aid the prospects for the coming season. Durinu 1910-17. when free access 1., the London market was afforded, hr said the Company paid suppliers on M daily direct basis an average on Ih. • year's supply of 1/10.45 per lb. I'.,r butter-fat, with butter levy, share reduction and reserve included. That suni. he believed, "as the highest paid in Australasia to suppliers for tlut season. Last season the butter \v; s sold to the Imperial authorities at 157.- per cwt.. plus half profits, the latter probably representing 2d. ~. i- ii,.. and the Company had advanced I 4.4 per lb. for butter-fat on a daily direct basis with bonus yet to be paid.

Willi regard to the coming season, th.: Company, realising the tirtsati?faotorv nature of the previous year's

sides nf butter and cheese, had ni ranged with Mr. Ellison, the Londi n representative of the National Dairy Association, to act as their representative, so that sales of dairy products could be made direct with tic Imperial Government. The cheese companies were asking IOJd. p ( r U). for the coming season, while I'M/- (1/9 per 11>.) was the price asked for next season's butter. Up to the pioscnt, however, no definite announcement could be made as to the actual figure to he paid for butterfa'. SKIM MILK POWDEK. After narrating the circumstances which had led to the Company's deci ion to manufacture a dried 3kini milk powder, as already outlined in the ••Times," Mr. Goodfellow explained that, as a result of investigate ns. the Company had made ar.-unirfwuts for the purchase of a machine for the manufacture of the p,.\vder on the "spray" process, as against the "roller" method. It was claimed, said the speaker, that pow- ,],•:■ made by the spray process was ,„l only more soluble, but would ~, |j si , ~ |,i L .|i-r price on the market. !■', i- .such a p iWder there was a good market, and in support of this Mr. G..,idtVlli.w mentioned that the ~.,!, |,., | advier of the Company's ~ .|,ts in (;lasv.o\\ was that such a p.iwiler was ipmlcd in the London ni-irke| at Chin per ton. That price, iu.-lildili'J the sale of butter, would „;• ~ ~ ivturn of .Tfi per lb. for hutter- ,-.,, iUI ,| it Hii'-dit work out at 3/f» i*r |l.. |l, iniv a factory i-mild be erected. a -uarante.d Mipply from .'I.OOO cows w . nM |„. necessary, and suppliers u,,nl,| be required to take up shares ~. ~,,.,.i (1,,, capital expenditure j„v,,lvcd for the erection of a suitalde la.ti.ry. i OXFIDKNVK IX THK KI'TURK. .\.< p. future prospects, Mr. Goodi, :|,,\ V -aid milk powder was coming ti. tin front, and was likely to be in ■jencral u.-e. inanufacturers of biscuits ill ~ bein- prospective big buyers of the article. Jn that connection, Mr. t; |f,.||„ w nieiitioned that his latest cabled information wa- that his C0m- ,,,.„„••, a.'eins c.nil.l sell iii big quanti,,,..'it New /.aland could produce tho :i ,, i.-j,-. |.'ivc access to the London markei. he added, had been promised by Mr. Miis-cy for all the powder that c.'.nld be produced, and he thought that was satisfactory. (Hear, hear.) CiiMI'KTITION AGAINST MONOPOLY.

KrlYniir-' t<> tlif Now Zealand Dairy AsMiiriMtit'i'rs "Claxn" factories at Matamala and Malamri. whore the J„,h|ik-1 Im'l«iik«il t<> Messrs. Nathan n ,„] (',,.. Mr. Goodfollow assorted tli.it Miosis. Nathan made about .Cion.oon profit p<r annum out of the article, with no capital invested, they only payinu about 10 per cent, intorest for the use of the buildings and plant. Realisinc the immense profits made liy that proprietary concern, he said the Waikato Dairy Company had decided to erect the first of their dried milk factories at Matamata to compete with Messrs. Nathan and Co., so that the profits should go to the producers on a co-operative basis. The Company therefore had decided to go into the Dried Milk business at the earl:.<M possible date, concluded Mr. Coodfellow. amid applause. MR. CLARK'S TESTIMONY.

Mr. .1. (lark, a director of the Company, followed, and referred to the changes which had been brought about in the agricultural world, especially in England, and he said such changes had produced a larger

field for activities for dairying in various countries. -Milk «-aa becoming more and more a typical fowl Decenary for the sustenance of Ijf P ind the re.lT.lt was that it was beeom and mom an extremely v«Re article. The speaker, in that connection, reviewed the many ways m which the milk products were h«ng utilised in various parts of the world, and pointed out that cows and all products of the cow would necessarily advance in value. After making a passing reference to • the high coat of living, Mr. Clark said that undoubtedly the farmers throughout the Dominion had been penalised during the past year, but he thought. after mature consideration of the dried milk question, that the change A3 proposed would be justified, and would be beneficial to the dairy farmers and to the community generally. (Applause.) Attention to the breeding and rearing of calves and stock would also have to-be considered, and in that connection he believed that in three years' time as much 88 ,10 guineas would have to be

paid for a well-developed heifer. There was a great need for well-bred dairy stock, and the demand would increase, said Mr. Clark. On the question of co-operation, Mr. Clark condemned the action of capitalists who participated in the share of any co-operative concern which simply thwarted the spirit of cooperation. "Once a capitalist got a grip of a co-operative undertaking, it condemned the thing from beginning to end," emphasised the speaker. In America, all the business undertakings were proprietary concerns, and, said Mr. Clark, "do you think that the Americans are going to take up this dried milk business unless they are going to make something out of it?" They were highly satisfied, and had paid 3/fi and more. Turning to Mr. Goodfellow, Mr. Clark said, "Am I over-stating the, case?" and Mr. Goodfellow replied, "They have paid up to 4/2." Continuing, Mr. Clark said that the possibilities <>f development, were almost boundless, and should be co- j operated. He added: "We cannot \ afford to have the spirit of co-opera-tion violated, and we must stick to co-operation to the last, and fight for it like men." (Applause.) Alluding to the possibilities ahead in the direction of co-operation, Mr. Clark advocated the running of national ships to and from the markets of the world, and denounced the enormous profits made by the capitalist ship owners. Mr. Clark concluded his speech by urcring all to be true to the spirit of co-operation, and to look after their own interests. "Then," said be, "if you are true co-operationists, the prospects of the future will be gloriously bright." (Applause.)

AMALGAMATION FAVOURED Mr Piggott said he recognised in Ifr Clark's speech the true co-operative spirit and Mr Pulton had also pre- „ Tionaly expressed himself in favour of of the various com- - panics operating in the Bouth Auckland district (hear, hear) He (Mr Piggott) would therefore like to know what kept the two companies apart. Mr Olark, replying to Mr Piggott, stated that the power was in the hands of the suppliers themselves, and when that was shown the directors of the respective companies would recognize the feeling of the suppliers and would ate the necessity for acting in the direction indicated. ACTION DEFERRED. As the suggested amalgamation was already under consideration by the committees convened by the local Farmers' Unions it was agreed to await the report from the central committee before taking any action in regard to the establishment of a dried milk factory.