BUTTER AND CHEESE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 220, 24 February 1915, Page 3

BUTTER AND CHEESE.

OAKUEA CHANGES TO CHEESE. There was a large attendance of suppiers to the Oakura Dairy Company, and of farmers generally representing the coastal district from Omata to Tataraimaka, in the Oakura hall on Monday nightat the meeting called by the Oakura Dairy Company's directors to discuss whether it would be in the best interests of the company to undertake tile manufacture of cheese instead of butter next season. Mr \V. Honeyfield, chairman of directors, presided, and in explaining the object for which the meeting had been called, said that during' the past two or three years cheese had paid farmers better than butter, and although prices for butter were at present very high still cheese was much higher in proportion, and there was no doubt that suppliers to a cheese factory would come out at thi- end of the season a long way ahead of butter men. Owing to the increased consumption of margarine he thought that the future of butter on the Home markets was not nearly so good as cheese. When the present war was over there might be a very considerable drop in the prices for produce, but even then the difference in favor of cheese would be very considerable, and fully warranted them going to the expense of erecting a cheese factory. So far the directors had not engaged the. services of an expert to supply them with the probable cost of'erecting and equipping a cheese factory, but, if the meeting favored going into the manufacture of cheese this would be done and a full report presented to a later meeting. To make, a success of the cheese factory they must endeavor to bring the whole supply of the company to one factory, and to do this the suppliers at the extreme ends of the company's district must be prepared j

to make sacrifices in regard to the distance they would have to cart their milk. The factory would have to be built at Timaru, where tliey had sufficient, land, and which was. of course, tin; most central site. The suppliers to the Petone creamery, he understood, were willing to cart their milk to Tinmru, and if the suppliers to the Oakura factory were prepared to meet the company in a similar manner he felt sure the savin" in cost of running would amply repay those suppliers for their extra labor.

Tlie secretary also read a letter from Mr Ellison, the National Dairy Association's representative in London, which was favorable to the future prospects of cheese.

Tlie principal discussion was waged around tlio question of site. The creamery site at Timaru was generally favored, but some speakers considered it would not suit all tlie suppliers, on acc unt of the long distance carting entailed. and they favored erecting a second factory. It was stated tlmt if Timaru were chosen tlie supply of some SOn cows on tlie upper Petone road would not come in, and tlie settlers concerned miglit liave to make a move on tlieir own account.

The chairman maintained that Timaru was the most central, and tie thought that it would be harder for the lower Petone people, who had 110 metalled reads, to bring their milk, than it would for the upper Petone people, with metalled roads.

After enumerating the cows available, it was shown that there would be at least 000 that would supply Tiinaru, and 300 certain to supplv at the Oakura end if two cheese factories were erected. This did not include any supply from the Omata side of Oakura. After considerable further discussion, it was resolved, on the motion of Messrs Buckle and Combe, "That this meeting favors the company going in for the manufacture of cheese." It was further resolved,'"on the motion of Messrs Buckle and Coombe, that the directors be instructed to enquire into the cost of erecting and equipping t< cheese factory at Timaru. and also to enquire as to the prospects of success and probable cost of a branch station to be erected at a suitable site at or neai Oakura. and to report at a subsequent meeting.