MIDHIRST DAIRY COMPANY.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXI, Issue 2, 1 August 1916, Page 3

MIDHIRST DAIRY COMPANY.

[To Turn Editor Stratford Post.] Sir, — Referring to your issue of tin iifth inst. 3 I noticed a letter from Mi P. H. Wellington mainly'drawing at tention to the management of. tin Store of the above Company. Hie advises the .Directors to make Movertuijes” to Mr Darkness, storekeeper. Midhirst. I do not know for what purpose. Now, Sir, Mr Wellington complains of our worthy manager (Mi f. Klcemani not having had a- “commercial training,” whatever that might bo. 1, should like to draw the attention of your correspondent that Mr Kleoman has managed the Midhirst Factory almost since its inception (21 years ago), that the same factory is one of the most successful in the Dominion, it not the most successful; that for tile last two seasons, it has created a record for the largest payout for hutter-fat (vide “The Dairyman, July 20, 1016) in New Zealand for a butter factory; that the turnover i s approximating to the £150,000 mark; that all this has been brought about by a strictly business regime; yet wo are told by your correspondent that the manager has not had a commercial training ! I think a hearty vote of thanks to the manager, staff, and directors, would have been iiiuio to, the point than quibbling about the conduct of the store. there is nothing to be gained by making “overtures” to Mr Darkness,

"ho would probably require ;i goodwil in disposing of bis business. \Ve ills have a store already erected on tb Company’s land, and plenty more land ii required, for purposes of enlarge men Jr. We also have a splendid good will, in the shape of two hundred am sixty shareholders, and probably dail; purchasers (cash). The manage: cannot do impossibilities. All that Ik requires is authority to import fron Europe and America. This would prob ably mean more share capital, and a 1 the present time, I think the directors have their hands pretty full of more important matters. Just a word re “casein.” The proposal of Mr Nathan to buy the stuff at .a tentative price of 2d wag very rightly turned down by the share holders. At the beginning of hist season (1915), ~ the “Union Casein Company” were offering 2id per lb butter-fat, to any factory in New Zealand, and they are also offering the same price now. The proposal by one of the shareholders to put plants for the manufacture of “green casein” into the creameries even if it cost £lO,000, is certainly better than Mr Nathan’s offer of 2d per' lb, but what I should like to point out is why not make cheese (green) in just the same way at the creameries and bring it into a central curing room ? A dual plant at.the Midhirst laetory will have’ to come, just as surely as the manufacture of “sugar of milk” will have to come in the very near future. Just a word, Sir, before concluding, in connection.with a, remark of Mr G. Sangster, who is reported to have 3 aid “That lie objected to the Company being bled to food suppliers, ivlio were able to supply milk to the ’actor.v during a couple of- winter nontbs.” By this, he means that hose supplying milk during May,

Juno and July, should not participate in tho annual bonus. Now, Sir, Mr Songster is a creamery supplier, and by voicing this opinion, strikes at the very root of the principles of co-opera-tion. All or any of those suppliers to the factory can turn round and tcli Mr Sangstcr that they object to “feedj him.” yVo are all debited with a proportional cost of his operations at the creameries. Factory suppliers, for instance, do not require two (2) £BOO motor lorries, but wo do not grumble, as we bear in mind, that we are members of a co-operative Association. ] must apologise. Sir, for the length oi j this letter, and thanking you for the space.—l am, etc. I ARTHUR RICHMOND. !