DISTRICT NEWS.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 8, Issue 453, 28 February 1919, Page 1

DISTRICT NEWS.

CLEVEOON. FUBION OF DAIRYIMG INTERESTS. THE SCHEME PROCEEDING. A meeting of dairy farmers and others interested in butter-fat supply in Clevedon and the surrounding district was held in the public hall, Clevedon, on Saturday last. The gathering had been convened by the Clevedon branch of the Farmers' Union, and the N Z. Dairy Association and the Waikato Dairy Company bad been asked to send representatives to address the mooting on the matter of the amalgamation of the various companies operating in the 8: uth Auckland districts. Mr Pacey attended on behalf of the New Zealand Dairy Association, and Mr Dynes F. Fulton on behalf of the Waikato Dairy Company, Mr Goodfellow not being able to be present. Mr C. A. Fawcett presided. Mr Fulton explained that the proposed amalgamation was a big business, and that it required a great amount of time, and much thought, before it could be put on a practical basis. A committe of three Directors from each Company had, be said, been set up to consider the question, and on summing up the points the committee had decided that amalga mation was the best thing that could be done in the interests of the producer, and they were now considering the best form in which to place the scheme before the producers for their consideration. He considered that the best procedure for the two Companies, when it was decided to amalgamate, would be to go into liquidation, and to then form a new company consisting of the amalgamated companies. He suggested that districts should be cut up into wards for the election of their Directors, and that a practical Managing Director be appointed out of the ekcted Directors as General Manager. Personally, he was strongly in favour of amalgamation, and the matter had reached the stage when it would shortly be placed before the suppliers for their consideration. He was sure that other companies in the South Auckland district would come into the amalgamation, besides the two companies at present most con cerned. Mr Pacey then spoke, saying that the question of amalgamation was the most important proposition that had ever come before the dairy farmer 10 this portion of the South Auckland district. He pointed out that some farmers eaid they liked competition, but competition was the extreme of co-operation, and was the most disastrous thing that could happen amongst co-operative concerns. He quoted, as an example, the Oil fruit- not as an example of Trusts, but as an example of co-operation The various oil companies on amal gamuting, had so reduced the cost of production and distribution that not only had they been able to make huge dividends, but had been able to reduce the price to the consumer, thus proving the benefits of doing

away with competition and substituting co-operation right through. Mr facey referred to the loss, through want of amalgamation in the dairy companies, throughout the whole of the South Auckland province. There was loss through railage, carriage, handling, etc., which could be saved by amalgamation, and also better butter could be manufactured, as it naturally followed thai so much hanging and carting about did not improve the quality of the cream. He considered the latter point the most important of the lot, as recently there had been a setting back in the quality of butter in the South Auckland province, while North Auckland had been going up. As soon as the Government contracts were concluded the butter would have to face the open market, and a loss of quality would mean a loss of returns. Continuing, he stated that all expenses that could be cut out would mean bigger returns for the producer. There was one and a-half million pounds' turnovrr in the South Auckland province for the year, and he undertook to say that if amalgamation came about generally it would mean not one and a-half millions but three millions.

The meeting unanimously agreed that an amalgamation of dairying interests must act beneficiully in the interests of dairy farmers generally; and votes of thanks were accorded to Ifr Pacey and Mr Fulton for attending, and to Mr Fawcett for presiding.

The animals exhibited for the weight-guessing competitions at the Clevedon A. and P. Show, held on February 15th, have been killed, and the weights and winners of the competitions are as follows: —Bullock, actual weight 68Ulbs, Mr A. Mcßae guessed s|lbs. out; Cow, actual weight 9261b5., Mr C. C. Munro guessed 251b. cut; three sheep, actual weight 2391b5., Messrs F. Stephens and M. M. Thowes each guessed lib. out, and tied; pig, actual weight U2lbs, Messrs T. A. Alexander and H. S. Munro each, guessed lib. out, and tied; aggregate prize, Mr H. H. Munro guessed M£lb out.