THE CASEIN INDUSTRY.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVI, Issue 11, 13 June 1913, Page 8

THE CASEIN INDUSTRY.

A COMPLIMENTARY GATHERING. A luncheon was given at the White Hart Hotel yesterday by the New Zealand Casein Company, Ltd., to the visiting representatives of Canterbury dairy companies, representatives of several local dairy companies and others. Mr. J'. W. 'Vickerman, managing director of the company, presided. After the luncheon, a short toast list was discussed.

"The King" was followed by "The Dairy Industry," which was proposed by Mr. 11. Okey, M.P., who mentioned, in the course ofi an informative speech, that the manufacture of the new product, casein, was being followed with the liveliest interest by the farmers of Taranaki. From what he had gathered from personal interviews with suppliers, a,t Bell Block, the'"progressive farmer* was quite satisfied with his returns and the prospects, but the indifferent and careless supplier was not over enthusiastic in regard to it. If it turned out as anticipated, then th« fanners of Taranaki would have reason to feel grateful to the pionfeers, the Casein Company, whose efforts tfertainly deserved success. He believed Taranaki, as a dairying country, had a great future before it. Farmers, however, would have to' concern themselves more with the proper cultivation of smaller areas than with securing more land. ' Mr. James Middleton, manager of the Canterbury;. Central Dairy Company, i CTiris'tchurthVscea^dedv' Hohis pleasure being. present at the function and at- seeing Taranaki. He issued a "warning against paying too much for land. It was nil right to pay £.70 nri acre for land when butter-fat was fetching Is a lb, but lie was afraid that if prices receded beyond that point it would be a poor look-out for the man who had loaded himsejf with dear land. He and. his fellow, visitors had come tip. for information regarding the new proIduct, of which they had heard such favorable reports, and if they could see that the product would ensure better

prices for the producer, then they ceuld depend upon it they would recommend their shareholders to take up the manufacture of casein.

Mr. T. Buchanan, secretary of two j Waitara dairy factory companies, also J replied. The Waitara West Company had (entered into the manufacture of casein, and though they had not gone very far yet, the results had been quite satisfactory. It had meant an increase of 11 per cent, in the returns to suppliers, which was a big consideration. The whey from casein he described as being quite as good as that from cheesemanufacture; in fact, it was better. He cited instances in support. For one thing scour in young stock never followed the use of casein whey. The whey was, of course, all the better .fortified by the use. of meal. Pigs and calves thrived upon it, and he showed what some of the suppliers were dping with it. It took time to demonstrate the success or otherwise of the new industry, but, apeaking for himself, he had not the slightest doubt that the industry would-anake good and had come to stay, and with results just as satisfactory to the suppliers, as to the company. "The Visitors" was next proposed by Mr. 0. N. Firth, who regards it as an honer to have mefc -of such prominence [ in the fanning world coming to New | Plymouth from as far as Canterbury to see the Winter Show, make themselves acquainted with the conditions in Taranaki, and interest themselves in the casein industry, which gave promise of becoming, in the near future, an'important and of export. Mr. 11. 0. Perryman, a director of the Taitapu Company, near Christchurch, responded in a felicitous speech. He spoke hopefully of the prospects of the dairying industry. Butter was certainly threatened in the Home markets by margarine, which had been brought to such a state of perfection that exports could hardly tell the difference between it and j butter, but other markets were opening up, in Canada and the United States, that were full of promise, whilst now they had the development of an industry like casein that might place the suppliers in a better position than ever. He, like his fellows, was anxious to learn all he could about the new industry,.and. if it justified expectations, it would mean a good thing for all concerned. Mr. Chas. Agar, manager of the Taitapu Dairy Company, proposed the toast of "The New Zealand Casein Company,"' coupled with the name of Mr. Vickerman, who, in responding, said his company had always been treated very hospitably by the men engaged in the dairying industry, with whom they had interests in common, and that was one reason why the company had invited them to partake of its hospitality on the present occasion. His companv was after business—there was no use in hiding that fact. At the same time, lie felt that tlie business was of a nature that was mutually beneficial. He, however, did not wish to talk "shop" that day; they had heard all the arsninients, etc., before, no doubt. But lie was very pleased to meet them at the festive board, and to make and renev acquaintances. which he. trusted would remain I life-long.