CHEESE AND BUTTER.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 244, 24 March 1915, Page 8

CHEESE AND BUTTER.

OAivl'KA i'AYoKS JiUTII.

CUEICSK FACTOIiV Rill 'll MAUL". An adjciurneil meeting of .suppliers of tile Oakura Dairy Company wa, held i.i l';o Uakura Llull hist night tn further discuss the (picstinn of manufacturing cheese, a discussion on which had

be... . <.■:■[ ma' until furiher information had been gathered by tile directo'.s. .'.ii'. W. Ibmeylield presided over a fair aitemlani-e, and .ilr. W. K, l.'erciial, of Inyieivooil, who has designed the majority of the faetories along the eoa.-,t, was present, as was also .Mr. W. liraia. Government dairy expert.

The chairman submitted -Mr. Pereivai's report, which stated that ,115 would never recommend the erection of a t-heise factory on a site where the only supply of water was from a well, or where there was not a good outlet for drainage into a fair-size running stream. Uf the various sites suggested, h k . reported that on the upper side of the South Road at l'etone there Was a good -die, but he did not think the volume of water was sullicicnt to carry the drainage properly. At Timaru, only a mile away from the Putono site, there was amide water supply and a stream of sullicieut size to absorb the drainages without risk of trouble. At Oakura there was verylittle room available, but a two-vat building could be erected in front of the present building. lie also reported on a site at Tapuae. He submitted approximate estimates for a four-vat building with a three-vat, plant at Tiniaru. capable of dealing with the milk of from lOIK) to lillll eowV with assistant's cottage; Tor a two-vat building, plant and curing-room at Oakura, capable of dealing with the supply from -101) to do!) cows, and a similar building at Tapuae with space for a separatingroom. A manager's house and assistant's cottage would be also required there. He did not think, however, that the cost of installing a factory at Tapuae would be justified. If the Tiniaru and Oakura schemes were gone on with, he would recommend the erection of a large curing-room at Oakura to deal wil'i the cheese from both factories, and later ;'. curing-room could he erected at Tiniaru.

Mr. Pcrcival said that if the company abandoned the idea of erecting a plant at Oak lira, and erected a dual plant at Timaru, the cost would he £7OO extra. The cost to the company would be about £tioo less than for two separate plants. From a purely business standpoint, he considered that the best paying proposition was to have one factory only at Timaru: from the point of view of sentiment and policy, it might be expedient to erect a factory at Oakura also. JTo estimated that, it would cost approximately £■!.'>!> per annum more to run the two factories separately than it would with the same milk under one roof. liased on last year's supply, this would mean an extra, cost of .44d per lb of butter-fat. Mr. W. Grant stated that from a trip round the district with the chairman he could see that their district was an extended one. It would therefore be a difficult proposition to.concentrate the supply under one roof without indicting a hardship oa the suppliers at one end. The more milk delivered under one roof, the better proposition it would he to suppliers of that company. lie pointed onj that space would be very limited at Onkura, whereas Timaru was a splendid site for a real good Central factory. lie pointed out that a four or five-vat factory would pay equally as well as a large factory, provided conditions of cartage etc., were equal. Mr. McAllum thought that it would be far better to erect a dual factory at Timaru than spend £(100 at Oakura, where a new factory would he required in a few vears.

In reply to Mr. Telford, Mr. Pcrcival said that it would be very difficult to arrive at a basis of payment if butter was manufactured at Oakura and cheese at Timaru.

Mr. Orover suggested that if two factories were erected the suppliers of each could pay the cost of running their plant. Mr. W. IT. Hawkins said that undoubtedly one factory at Timaru was the best proposition, but he thought that there might lie an element of injustice to tin- large number of shareholders at (lie ot'-ier end, who might he cut out. Both wet and' dry shareholders should be considered. He thought that liquidation might be a satisfactory solution. The chairman said that the directors had intended to buy the shares from any shareholders living four miles or more away from the factory, if they did not desire to continue as suppliers. Mr. Allen then moved—That this meeting consider* the present an inopportune time to go on with cheese and that they continue the manufacture of butter as at present. Mr F. Morris seconded.

The chairman moved as an amendment —That the company should undertake the manufacture of cheese next season and erect a dual plant at Timaru.

This was seconded by Mr. E. Dolierty

Mr. McAllum pointed out that if Oakura remained a s at present a number of their suppliers would <ro over to Okato.

The chairman said that he had. given the matter considerable study. They would have <i good company if they stuck together. The Petone suppliers had made considerable sacrifice, and Oakura would have to do the same.

Mr. Adlam put in a strong pies, for co-operation. TTe admitted that Timaru was the best site, but thought it would be unfair to thirteen or fourteen suppliers who would find the distance too far. TTe suggested that a two-va( factory should be put up at Oakurn, as well. The suppliers at Oakura and Timaru could each pav their own expenses, and take what they earned.

Mr. Allen pointed out that a factory was an asset to a district, and its removal would bo unfair to settlors who had purchased land in the locality. In reply to questions. Mr (Irani said that a central curing-room added to the expense of maiiufactura, and that cur-ing-rooms at each factory were advisable.

The rpie=tion was then raised as to whether it would he possible to have a butter factory at Oakura as well as a cheese factory at Timaru.

Tlio cliainiuin pointed out that cheese would ray out so muck bettor that supplies would lcafi tlio butter factory and take their milk to Timaru, and the company would be left with .such a small supply at Oakura that th« cost of nianufauture would be prohibitire.

The chairman replied in the i;::';r::a----live to a ipicstion as to who, .■ it 'was intended to lake lh t , butter-fa, .rem Oakura to Tmiaru.

After a little further discussion, in which shareholders -were assurer? that the amendment did not necessarily mean closing the Oakura factory, the amendmenl. was carried, both b v 'a sb,.w 'of hands, and on a ballot, the votim- b;\n" «'' to ii.

."Messrs. Hawkins and Coomb" miwd that the meeting recommend the dire.tor.s to run Oakura factory as a ..'leamcry. The secretary stated, in the course of discussion, that the creamery suppliers would probably be paid out for butt.Tfat at the same rates as suppliers to either Moa or Manjrorui dairy factories wore paid. Mr. Morris suggested thai Oakuv ; , might be rim as ;i factory and the wh : v cream from Timaru carteil there. The resolution was carried.

Votes of thanks to Messrs. Percivai ami (.Irani concluded the meeting.