CO-OPERATIVE BACON FACTORIES.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXIII, Issue 287, 5 December 1901, Page 2

CO-OPERATIVE BACON FACTORIES.

TO THUS EDITOR. Sir, —It is with pleasure that I i notice that tha question of co operation in one of the bye products of the farm is beginning to attract the attention of the farmers, and having read the report of the various meetings, also the letters appearing in your columos, and one in your contemporary, I would ask farmers to deal with the subject in a business like manner, and discard the " puffing" that " Farmer" so awkwardly tries to hide in his letter of the 27th ult., and which the correspondent in the Herald makes no attempt to hide. This puffing leads one to think there is a power behind the throne, and that is what the farmer doesn't want. We want absolute facts placed before us, and then we can please ourselves whether we venture or not. The Morepork Factory at Woodville is a co-operativa concern, and I have been to some trouble in making inquiries as to bow it works out, and I am satisfied that with united action there is a good investment in a co-operative baco > factory. The Morepors Factory is paying out fourpence, and although no dividend has as yet been paid out, still with the increased supply, the cost of working is so greatly reduced that the company is very sanguine. Well, Sir, what is to praven 1 farmers in Taranaui dbing the same. We lead the van in dairying, and yet we allow 1 private concerns to grow up in our midat, ard live on our labour. lam sorry that I must digress here a bit, but I like to substantiate what I say. The first report you published stated that Mr Drake's profit was practically JBOO for last year, but it did not mention anything about this year. Well, Sir, that .£BOO shout! have gone into the farmers' pockets, and Hera,l<i's correspondent makes a statement that (unlets he is behind tha scenes) goes a long way beyond legitimate argument in a matter of tbis kind when he says, "It is an established fact that Mr Drake's brand is well known . . . rnd that merchants are willing to pay a higher price for it than any other brand." And then re Mr Drake's poei'ion being " par excellence." Well, Sir, we have got telegraphic, telephonic, postal and all other sorts of communication at Opunake, and I would inform the Herald's correspondent that with the pussing of the Egmont County Bill W6 have big hopes of putting our harbour in such a condition that in the near future we can ship our produce without New Plymouth's assistance. It is a pity, Sir, that that gentleman didn't know sufficient of Press etiquette to continue any correspondence in the paper in which it first started, and the editor of the Eerqld, says it is only the importance of the subject that decides him in publishing the letter. Now I never wish to be personal, S : r, but really I think that correspondent showed great want of t<ste in making tbe statements he did. In your |teading art cle, you put the matter fairly and squarely, <rod you have left the matter to us farmers. Quite right! Your Toko correspondent advocates co-operatioa. One company, one brand. Quite right again. But also let us have an up-to-date building. One that is properly insulated. The Herald's correspondent says that the time has not arrived for such an institution, although he advocates buying Mr Drake's. He siys Stratford is not fitted up with business. requirements the same as Fitzroy, and '

a lot more buncombe whicb, no i doubt, wi)l be relished by the S'.ratford i people, who are everlastingly dinging it into our ears *8 to what a progress i Bjve place S'.ratford is, I think everyi one will admit that Mr Drake deserves j credit for establishing the industry as j he did, but I do not think that Mr i Drake did to for the farmets' direot

i benefit, and Mr Drake can s«e that oo- ' operation in the bacon industry must come, and so is trying to float his coni earn into a co-operative concern. I, i Sir, give him credit for his foresight, and from what I know of Mr Drake, I do not think he inspired the /Jendd'a let'er, or yours written by " Farmer," which are only " puffs " by the earns J nand. He states that merchants are wiping to pay jja [ higher price for it thao any other, and that " in taking over a factory we should be com T par*lively safe," Then comes the pro- < viso if we kepi to the same cure and staff." This is very s*eet ind ei 1 . The Moiepirk fiGtory has paid a higher price throughout its exigence than Mr Drake's factory has done. • Inglewood his done batter, nod then I am informed i.ad a prjfitof over £IOO. Stratford has p 'id, and is paying, as fcig P"Pgi doeg 'dqi ' possess this wojderful cure and gaff, Wonderful, really! He awn hints pay-, ittg a higher price, well, that remtius to be provad, and I, as a f inner, objeat to "fluting" any particuhr company. I only know that all our pigs from Opunake went by way of Straifurd, aud I should eay that with the prospects of

the line going through to Auckland Stratford should make a very suitable centre. With regard to killing stations so much talkid about, I am very doubtful if the idea would pan out. I have proved that the Morepork and the Inglewood factories have done better than this establishment with the wonderful cure »nd staff, therefore it proves itsalf tint Mr Drake must hive made an enormous profit, which rightly belongs to the farmer. Let ttie farmers ' meet at the most convenient centre. 'Let them discuss the pio< and cons; let it be decided, whichever factory they decide to purchase, to purchase only by valuation. Why should we a« farmers pay the seller's own price? Valuation is the proper way. Let them appoint an executive, and do th* thing in a business manner, as your correspondent Rays Mr Harkoess carried through successfully the Moturoa project. It is a pity, Sir, that he cmno t be induced to take this matter up. However, I hope the matter will be taken up heartily and discussed from a business point of view. As far as Opunake is concerned, I do not think it will affect us much; but until we erect a building Stratford is the most convenient, and I believe more up-to-date in its appliances. However, that is a point farmers as the purchasers must decide. —I am, etc., Opuitakiitk.