CHEESE OR BUTTER.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 108, 23 September 1912, Page 7

CHEESE OR BUTTER.

DISCUSSED 'BY' OMATA SUPPLIERS. The question of going in for cheesemaking in preference to butter was discussed at the annual meeting of shareholders of the Omata Dairy Factory Co. on Saturday.

The subject was broached by Mr. P. Rftill, who said that on comparing bal-ance-sheets lie found that on the average cheese-making factories received Is 3%d per "lb for their butter-fat, while last .year the Omata factory had only received ll.!)2d. One chease factory had received as much as Is 5y 2 d for their butter-fat. The speaker strongly favored converting the company's butter-making plant iiito a cheese-mak-'liig 'plant; The proposal was vigorously supported by Mr. Morris, who said the company had been losing between £l.lOO and £I2OO the last few years through sticking to butter, that was assuming butter paid Is per lb (which they never got) and cheese Is 4d. a vary low pstiiiwtp. i . .]t" would cost between £.IOO and £4OO to convert both plants into cheese-manufacturing plants. The buildings were already there. If they wished to erect a new and up-to-date'cheese plant it would cost about £IOOO.

Another shareholder condemned the proposal, homing that in the. long run suppliers would be better off. If they went in for cheese, their gain would be more than eaten up by the loss in the by-products. Mr. Maee said he had been informed on good authority that the Bell Block Company had received an estimate for installing ;i cheese-making plant, which ran into £3OOO. ITe was against the proposal. The secretary stated that from an estimate he had rcecived it would cost at the lowest £IOOO to instal the proposed plant. In order to go into the question-thor-oughly, the chairman moved, at the request of a. shareholder, that Mr. W, J. Neilson, of the Royal Oak cheese factory, be permitted to address the meeting. This was opposed by Mr. Honeyfield,' who moved an amendment that the manufacture of butter be continued. To admit Mr. Xeilsoii (who was not a .shareholder) to the meeting would, ho averred, be'.v breach of the by-laws. Mr. Frost seconded the amendment.

It was pointed out by another speaker t.liiit those who wished to supply :i cheese factory could take their milk to Mr. \cil-.on's factory. If they wanted a cheese factory, then buy out Xeilsoii. The motion to admit Mr. Ncilson was put to the meeting; and lost by an overwhelming majority, and Mr. Honey field's amendment then became a substantive motion. An amendment was moved by Mr. Bayly that the directors collect all available data as to the cost of erecting cheese-making plants, and report to a further meeting to be held at Xew Plymouth in a fortnight's time.—This was lost. Mr. Raill moved a further amendment that elieese-making plants be installed. —This was seconded by Mr. Mills. The amendment was lost, only nine voting in its favor. A number of shareholders here left the meeting, and complaint was made by several speakers that all the '''butter men" were leaving. After considerable objection, Mr. Morris was permitted to move that Mr. Neilson be heard' that day. This amendment was also defeated. Mr. TToneyliehFs motion that buttermaking be continued was then carried by an overwhelming majority.