Our Stratford Page

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 236, 3 April 1912, Page 3

Our Stratford Page

BUTTER V. CHEESE,

1 CHEESE "OUTED" IN STRATFORD IX THE FIRST ROUND. At the time appointed for the meeting of shareholders of the Stratford Farmer's Co-operative Association this morning the attendance was poor. The chairman expressed a doubt as to whether such a small meeting should be asked to decide such a big question. But it appeared that the hour of eleven o'clock was too early for dairy farmers. Soon the shareholders began to "roll up," ( and' by the time the meeting was well' ■started there must ha.ve been nearly a couple of hundred present. Mr. R. Dingle, chairman of directors, presided. Mr. Dingle said that the directors' made no apology for call ng the meeting, because the difference in the price between butter fat for butter-making and butter-fat for cheese-making was so much that they thought it their duty to call the shareholder® together to discuss the relative merits of butter-making and cheese-making. They were not doing because their big brother Eltham or their smaller brother Mangatoki had gone in for cheese. At Eltham jtlre creameries were larger and more suit- ( able for turning into cheese factories.' whilst Mangatoki was so surrounded by the cheese element that for their own protection they had to adopt cheese. (A voice: "Coercion.") The Mangatoki people were quite satisfied that they would get more for cheese than for butter. Here the circumstances were quite different. They had some creameries large enough for small factories, but same were too small, and in considering the question of butter versus cheese they must take these smaller creameries into consideration. If this question had been brought before the company four yea,ps ag-o they would have looked upon the small companies as being fatal to the scheme, but there was a big change) to-day. Whether they went in for cheese or for butter they would have to manufacture some butter. Up to the past two years, butter fat incorporated in the whey had gone to waste. Now it was separated, and in the case of the Stratford Company they would get thirty tons of whey butter, which, at 9d a lb, would be worth £2520. Another by-product that had been wasted at some factories was the starter milk, from which they would separate £IOOO worth of butter in this company based on the present supply. None of these ! figures, he said, were exact, but were approximate. But cheese companies today, on a basis of the Stratford supply, would be £3520 better off than under the conditions prevailing two years ago. He was .not going- to put before them the price of cheese this season as against the price of butter; both had been better than ever before. It would not. be fair, for instance, to take the two best | months of cheese, at <s2s a cwt., andf compare it with butter which at that! time was ruling at 1275. In his figures j he would not deal with this year at all, for the year was not over. For the past five years the amount paid out per lb of butter fat by the two neighboring cheese factories and the Stratford butter fac-. Tory were as follow: Lowgarth Ngaire Stratford d. d. d. 1907 13% 136/ s 109-16 1908 11% 11.94 10 9-16 l 1909 12</ 4 11% 10 4-5 j 1910 11% 11% Hi/, • 1911 119-10 I2y 4 10 9-10 Average 121-10 12 2-5 1017-20 Thus for five years Ngaire had paid out on the average iy 2 d per lb more than Stratford, and L'owgarth. had paid out l%d more. As far as they could gather Ngiaire would pay out 15d this year and Stratford a little over liy,d. 'The difference was not so very great. The shareholders had turned down the proposal of a firm to erect buildings and plant to manufacture casein from the skim milk/even on a basis of iy 2 d per lb, so unless the difference was pretty considerable it was no use to talk cheese here. Cheese people claimed that they saved a lot of time as compared with butter people through not having to wait for their whey, as was the case for skim milk. Putting it at half an hour each, and at only sixpence per hour, the two hundred suppliers of Stratford lost from £IOOO to £ISOO per year. Coining to the comparative food values of skim milk jand whey, Mr. Dingle said they knew something about the food value of skim milk, but he was afraid not very much, for in his opinion they did not make full us© of it. As for the food Talue off 1 whey, he had talked with Mr. James Burgess, of Warea, who was a thoroughly up-to-date dairyman in all his methods. Mr. Burgess had told him that he I had previously held the opinion thWt wliey was not worth taking; away, but now, as a result of experience with it, I he had changed his mind, for by feeding I with whey and a little new milk he had reared as good calves as ever. Thetn Mr. Murdoch, chairman of the Joll Company, in South Taranaki, had told him that he fed his calves for two weeks 'on new milk, as most of them did here, and then fed them on the whey. He had got real good calves, which brought 28s in the yard=. Mr. Swadling, oV Kaponga, another v H-l-nown dairyman, reckoned that his whey-fed calves were as good as any round here. People who had studied that matter thought many dairymen gave the calves too much skim milk, causing indigestion. There was a general consensus of opinion that skim milk was far better for pig-raising. There were promises 'of big: possibilities in tlio casein business, and. perhaps, in a year or two they would have firms offering to buy their skim milk right out on a 2d a lb basis, and that would be worth waiting for. He pointed out that, lowt of cheese could be made from 451b of butter fat. and oven from less, on account of the moisture contents be ing greatly increased now, whilst it took 97yJl> of butter fat- to make 1121b of butter. On this basis, if cheese went up 'one shilling a cwt. butter should go up two shillings a cwt. When prices were falling, olieeso came down two shillings for every shilling in butter, and then the cheese picture was iy>Jt nearly so promising. Tie had seen it somewhere that there was going to be, a difference of 5d per lb in favor tof cheese between cheese-making and but-ter-making results. Others thought there would be a difference of probably 4d. For himself, he did not know: but he pointed out that n gain of Id per lb of butter-fat on the quantity supplied to this companv meant a train of £4fi"S. a gain of 2d £973fi. 3d about £14.000. and 4d over £IB.OOO. It was claimed by the cheese advocates that the wbev butter and starter butter would pay the whole cost of manufacture. Tfe would not advocate making cheese at the small creameries. Cheeso plants could be put in at the larger creameries, jand the cheese made and put in the hoops there

* From Our Resident Reporter, * * * * Office: No. 3, York Chambers, Stratford. # ******

and sent to the main curing room. The necessary plant would cost about £12,000. Depreciation and all charges up to f.o.b. New Plymouth or Wellington Mould be 2d per lb of fat. Then there were selling charges, freight and insurance amounting to nine shillings a cwt. As to the mode of financing, this was very easy in the companies which had just changed to cheese. Following on those lines, the basis of shares, in this company, namely, 'one for every IfiOlb 'of butter-fat supplied, would be lowered to, say, 801b per share.. Thus they would have to take up extra shares, I and so much per lb, probably y g d, would j be deducted till thty were paid off. I Mr. Dingle said that in discussing whey v. skim milk, and their feed values, shareholders must not give their prejudice full sway. There was the possibility of casein manufacture, but then the company might, in future, have to erect its own casein factories, of which as with a cheese factory, the cost would have to come out of the shareholders' profits. He was not so strongly against cheese as he had been, for they had to make butter, and there was this whey and starter butter. There would be the labor trouble. It might be difficult to get the labor for cheese factories at the present time, for so many big factories were going into cheese-making this year. He did not hold with the suggestion that any one creamery might go in for cheese-} making. They were a co-operative company, and should not be divided. It was pointed out that in the case of Mangatoki there was differentiation between cheese and butter suppliers. Thtf basis would have to be fixed before the cheese-making commenced. A shareholder, on being informed of Mr. Burgess' experience that, with an extra expenditure of 2s 6d per head, he could raise as good calves on whey as on skim milk, exclaimed, "What rot! He can't do it." The chairman: Several farmers have had the. same experience, and the stock inspectors who have been inoculating calves say the whey calves and the! skim milk calves differ very little. In answer to a question, the chairman said that the profits of butter and cheese would always be pooled. Thus, when cheese was "up," and butter "down," 1 the butter-making suppliers would be helped; and vice versa. To a further question, he said he was not going to compare cheese and butter prospects, but ' was inclined to favor those of cheese. Mr. S. J. Rawles moved that the company continue butter-making for the incoming season. J Mr. T. Webb, in seconding the motion. ] said that if the casein business "cams { off," the shareholders would be better I to stick to butter. Butter and casein | w-ould be better than cheese, which used i up the casein. The toy-products wer< all | 1 in favor of butter. Shareholders should -! ' give due consideration to calf-rearing j and pig-raising, important side-lines on ' the farm, which would be affected by the change. He did not put much reliance upon the statement that whey and half-a-crown a head in other food would give as good calves as those fed on skim milk. Mr. Gr. Sangster said that this company had always been a bit conservative. Land, say, at Ngaere, was very little belter than the land supplying this factory, but it was worth £5 or £lO an acre more. If they changed to cheese they would get this extra value. It would perhaps toe well to make cheese except in the beginning and the end of) the season. One shareholder stated that to change to cheese would mean the loss of the supply at the Skinner road creamery. The question of dual plant was raised. Mr. Dingle said that the present creameries would not be converted into cheese factories. The latter would be erected intact, and the separator plants would be used to separate the butter-fat from the wliey and starter milk. Mr. A. Brown (chairman of the Midhirst Dairy Co., who was present by invitation), said the chairman had not touched on one question. Should cheese prices fall, then the ratio of the cost of production had to be considered. Cheese at 45s a cwt cost 2d per lb. to manufacture, just as it did when worth 72s a cwt. Shipping charges were also heavy ou cheese. He could not see how cheese was going to continue ao much higher than butter. It would be determined by the amount of margarine made in the Old Country. He had no sympathy for the proposal to erect dual plants, for as likely as not the company would be making butter when cheese would pay better, and cheese when they should be making butter. There would be as much difficulty in deciding which to make as there was now in deciding how to market. As for casein, many people were of opinion that there was a big industry to be built up, for the uses of casein were multiplying rapidly. It was a met that there were comparatively few centres for casein manufacture on account of the home separation vogue and the increasing manufacture of cheese. Cheese-making, of course, used all the casein in the milk. Casein manufacture was not a proposition for cheese districts, or home-separator districts, nor in districts such as Warea, Okato, and others, where carriage was costly. This was one of the few big districts in which whole milk was being delivered in large quantities, and where there were good freight facilities. He was of the opinion that butter companies should hold on as they were going, and see what came of the casein business. It looked as if there were going to be a monopoly in casein production, and this district was well situated to take full advantage of it. Mr. Dinglo pointed out that the charges after the butter left New Zealand were ffs a cwt for cheese and lis for butter. Mr. E. Marfell said that there was a danger of some shareholders leaving the company if the motion were carried. That difficulty could, possibly, be overcome. The fact remained tuat this season cheese had been a better proposition for the producer than butter. He opined that the cheese market would hold its own better than the butter market. A voice: What do you base that opinion on ? Mr. Marfell: I've knocked about the world for nearly GO years, and I've kept my eyes open. Another voice: You've never seen much, then. (Mr. Marfell said that if there were strong cheese advocates in the meeting, let them "speak now, or else for ever hold their peace"; not keep silent now, and then keep on agitating outside. Mr. Were suggested that the figures were a bit formidable to digest right away, and moved as an amendment that

the meeting be adjourned for a fortnight to enable shareholders to come to an intelligent decision. Mr. Stetn. seconded the motion. Mr. Milne, one of the directors, said that there was nothing on which to base an opinion in favor of cheesemaking. He had had an interest in ISO calves reared on whey. Out ol them 125 died. Another shareholder met this statement with that of his own experience. He had, he said, reared as good calveß on whey, and better, than most of those that were reared on skim milk. A loiul interjection: I don't believe you. The shareholder became warm, and the meeting excited, so that his remarks were inaudible, but when the uproar subsided he offered to prove his statements. 'Mr. Sangstcr remarked that four or five years ago Ivaponga and the T. L. J oil companies went in for cheese. They did not seem to have repentc-d of the step. And in future cheese-making was going to be more profitable than in the, past, The amendment was declared lost on the voices, and the motion was carried without dissent. THE MAYORALTY. MR MASTERS DEPUTATIONISED. Mr. N. J. King headed a deputation to Mr. J. Masters, the present Mayor, today, and asked him to allow himself to be nominated for the mayoralty for another term. Mr. King praised the manner in which Mr. Masters had handled a somewhat difficult council in a very trying year, and said that as Stratford was just on the eve of a great development, a man of the highest business acumen and integrity was needed as the chief magistrate. Messrs. G. Smart and J. McAllister added their tribute, as did Mr. J. McCluggage, who said that the Mayor had been 'badly misrepresented recently over the electric light proposition. Mr. Masters said it was hard, but he must decline to accede to the request. Referring to Mr. McCluggage's remarks, he said that every public man was entitled to a fair share of abuse, and the more abuse he got, as a rule, the more good he was doing. He said that he had had thirteen solid years on the council, for two of which, he was Mayor, and he had always endeavored to run straight. But his business needed attention, and he felt he had the right now to some leisure to devote to it. As for the proposal to municipalise the electric light scheme, he predicted that before long his opinion would be the opinion of the majority of the people. He had been Waiting for some strong man to declare himself a candidate. lie touched on the loan proposals, a ml the suggestion of a certain faction that £IO,OOO of it should be spent on three bridges. The money was needed badly enough, but such a scheme of expenditure would prevent the loan poll being carried. He suggested that Cr. King should stand for the mayoralty, and he himself would contest Cr. King's seat, 'Mr. King, however, whilst appreciating the compliment and this recognition o£ his past services, said he had not the time necessary to devote to the office. The Mayor's mind was not quite fully made up when the deputation withdrew. He informed our representative subsequently that he would make no announcement on the matter until Thursday evening. THE GYMKHANA. ON EASTER MONDAY. Big fields are going to the post in most of the events at the Easter Monday gymkhana on the A. and P. Association's grounds. Entries are as follow: Mile trotting race, 17; 1% miles trot, 11; pony trot, 10; maiden hunting event, 4; Steeplechase, 9; hunters' open event, 10; pony jumping, 4; ladies' driving, 13; Ladies' leaping,, 9; girls' novelty event, 7. These ate only some of the exciting a nd interesting events to be decided. The gymkhana promises to be the big Easter attraction, and large crowds are expected by special trains.

THE LIBERAL RALLY. J The Hon. Tlios. Mackenzie telegraphed this morning, definitely promising to be present at the complimentary social to Mr. McCluggage on Easter Monday night. Liberals have promised to attend from, all parts of the electorate. The functio'n will take the form of a dance, with songs by some of the best talent in the district. The gathering will take this form out of compliment to tli _• lady electors, who are reckoned not to uvl at home at dinners and such-like junketings. Mr. G. E. Wilson, lion, secretary of the Stratford Liberal League, has received the following telegram from Sir Joseph Ward: —"Many thanks for letter of loth March. I have been considering whether I could arrange to be present at the Liberal League social to be held on Easter Monday, but exceedingly regret that appointments already made make it impossible for me to be in your district on that date. I should have been very pleased, indeed, to have been present to assist in doing honor to my friend, Mr. McCluggage, and trust that an enjoyable evening will be spent. I appreciate very sincerely your cordial congratulations, which are very gratifying to me. King regards to all.—J. G. Ward." BERNARD'S PICTURES. ''The Cowboy's Bride" is certainly an exceptional picture drama, for there is much hilarity caused by some of the incidents in it. The bride-elect's hardhearted treatment of her dad when she locked him in a room to enable her to elope with her cowboy was nothing compared with the merriment of herself, her little brother, and the cowboy when they toppled the old gentleman into a pony-cart and left them there. ''Tommy" was bribed, and let the father out. Then the boy had to make tracks, and comedy might have turned to drama if the stern parent had been fleet enough to catch the boy. Then there were the scenes in' which the Red Indians figured, and the , clever manner in which the braves were outwitted. "The Five Bold Bad Men" had an adventure which evidently hurt them as much as it tickled the risible faculties of the audience. "The Reign | of Flowers" was a treat, and r.ose-lovers went into raptures over the fine specimens photogaphed and the splendid manner in which the pictures were reproduced. The programme, which is to be shown again on Wednesday evening, is one of all-round sterling merit. On Thursday evening the change will include "Lady Godiva," said to be a film of great merit. There will be no pictures on Good Friday night. A VETERINARY CLUB. At the conclusion of the meeting of shareholders of the Stratford Farmers' Co-operative Association, Mr. Mason, a veterinary surgeon, who has come to this district with excellent credentials, briefly addressed those, present on the question of forming an association, members paying a fee of, say, 23s per annum, and receiving the veterinarian's services free, paying only for medicines. The meeting appointed a committee of representative settlers to go into the whole matter of the suggested club, fees, mileage, etc., and make a recommendation to some future meeting. A vote taken revealed a strong sentiment in favor of the establishment of such a club. GGENERAL NEWS. The Swimming Club committee had a rather interesting meeting on Monday. The agitation with the object of reswimming the 150 yards championship event was unsuccessful. The 440 yards event will be swum, if possible, on Thursday at 5 p.m. A resolution of confidence in the handicapper, Mr. C. E. Scabright, was carried, and he was requested to continue in the position. (Mr. Seabright had previously intimated a desire to retire.) Mr. F. Bowler's donation of a medal for the schoolboys' championship was accepted. Another draft of fine yearling cattle left to-day for the Palmerston North district. There were about 300 head altogether, and there were some very wellgrown youngsters there. They were sent away by Mr. S. Pitt and the New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company.