DISTRICT NEWS.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 8, Issue 445, 28 January 1919, Page 1

DISTRICT NEWS.

CLEVEDON. DAIRY COMPANIES' AMALGAMATION. DISCUSSED BY FARMERS.

At a recent meeting of the Clevedon Branch of the New Zealand Farmers' Union the question of the amalgamation of the various Dairy Companies and Associations operating in the Clevedon district was discussed at length, and eventually the J'ranch strongly approved of the amalgamation of the concerns. With a view to bringing the matter before the farmers of the district, the Union convened a meeting for Saturday last, and the same was held in the Clevedon Public Hall, Mr C, C. Munro, President of the Clevedon branch of the Farmers' Union, presiding over a fair attendance.

The*opinion of the meeting waß that with the two Dairy Companies at present operating in Clevedon — viz, the HJew Zealand Dairy Asso ciation and the Waikato Co-operative Dairy Company—there was considerable overlapping in the conveying of cream and milk to the factories. It was pointed out that a van belonging o one Company travelled many miles for peihaps one can, wbile the other tiavelled the same road—and perhaps a few yards further for a couple of cans of cream or milk. The suppliers, although in no way antagonistic to either Company, were practically unanimous that they were paying for that unnecessary dual expenditure, and that a considerable curtailment could be made by amalgamating, thereby having one van to convey the cream and milk to the factory. Mr C. A Fawcett moved, aud Mr A. D Bell seconded, "That this meeting of dairy farmers considers that the ime has arrived when an amalgamation of the dairy interests iu this P-.-ovince should be accomplished, more particularly referring to the New Zealand Dairy Association and the Waikato Dairy Company, as specially concerns this district, an-i that the management of ;he two companies be urged to forward the movement.

Speaking to the motion, Mr Fawcett said there was no ill-feeling or animosity that brought about the movement They had no fault to find with the companies doing business, but there was a tremendous waste going on at the present time. He added that the cartage amounted to 51.500. "*

" Question ?" interjected a farmer. Continuing, Mr Fawcett said there was no question about it, and he quoted the contract price of a contractor price of a contractor carting cream for one concern, and also the approximate cost to the other Company, together with a separate contract for the cartago of butter-boxes. He remarked it ost the New Zea!and Dairy Association about £BOO i'oi' cr.rtuge,'and the Waikato Dairy Company £6OO The same thicg was going on all over the Province where th re we-.e two companies opei ating A farmer was entitled to what he could gfet, but ho worked for ten times more than he got, added Mr Fawcett. In coiic'usion, Mr Fawcett stud the two Companies were carrying ou business on exactly the same liiie*, and he did not see why hu amalgamation should not take place. Mr Bell, who seconded the motion, said he had not prepared figures. All were fqiial'y interested in the question of amalgamation. lie understood the figeres quoted by Mr Fawcett wore substanti ily correct, and added that with the two Companies the expenditure was far too uigli. Ho pointed out that the matter had not been biought up by any one section of suppliers. The suppliers o". both factories were satis-fi-id thut as far as it went the payi]jO:us woro very little different He was sure an amalgamation wou!<l have taiien place some time ago but

tor a Chairman of Directors —viz, tliH late Capt. Hubbard—being on active service He was positive the nuiu was opportune to urge amalgamation being brought about, l'he sesoiutiou, tie add'.d, would bring weight to bear ou the Directors of ihe two Companies. Mr J. Hoyo endorsed the remarks or the previous speakers, and supported the rosoluiion. A bhoit ioimal discussion followed, iijd iho motion, upon being put, was ariioi by 21 Votes lo 5.

Mr Hove thou moved that a fur,her iLviiiiiig bo called lor Febiuary .:2m!, vthtu a representative of both uijqmiiii.a should be invited to be t , i-bn; j 1 lis was seconded by Mr i 'l ii, aiid cani.;d liio nuttier of <■ ibing iliu incoiiug was l«ft in the .Am s id the Faiiuers' Union, it ■;; i nutted out that it' the proposal r mi": sl '<uly carried out it would ;h r '(»Mto-t piece of work the . i.i m nj ,-.i I'tti accomplithod. . n< .it', vote nt liiiiik.s to the II , ;i , n'.i .Si c otuiy iMr J A. • i niiiiu.i'd liio proceedings, , i . r.s J I'm .11, W Finn, and . Mi my, "t Clovedon, urrivod buck u ttic i/ouiinioii recently invalided Iritii J'.gypt, suffering from Hie ciTocts of malaria fever,