MIDHIRST DAIRY MATTERS.

Taranaki Daily News, 24 July 1918, Page 3

MIDHIRST DAIRY MATTERS.

Dili ED MUJv. At the annual meeliug » f the Mid'hirst Dairy Company on Monday, the chairman stated that he had attended a meeting hold at Hawera- on Saturday to discuss the dried milk proposals. Last winter shareholders had been agitated over cheese, casein, glaxo, elc, and now attention was foenssed on dried milk. This industry was creating considerable stir in the Waikalo, where, there was a big company. So far the information gathered was not much to work upon. The promoters based the butter at 1110s and dried milk at, KiOs, lint he considered this was too high a basis, but if they | reduced the dried milk to half lo'Os, it would pay and pay handsomely. The I Waikato people possessed other information than what was available at present, but, naturally were not going to divulge what they had acquired at their expense. At Hawera a committee had been appoinied to go into the matter and report to a future meeting. Regarding seeking more information, he thought the Dominion was admirably represented by Sir Thomas McKenzie, and tho speaker thought that Sir Joseph Ward might be requested to gather details whilst in Britain and elsewhere on the matter. By this means he thought it possible they might obtain more information than they could otherwise obtain inside six months. Should they go hi for the new method Midhirst was admirably situated, being right on the railway line and having no opposition. A railway siding would be necessary to save cartage of coal, which was a big item. The water supply was also a big question, but there was no scarcity of this just now. Regarding casein ho did not know whether it was advisable to have casein plant machinery at creameries. The secretary stated thoy could rely on £3OO being secured from casein next season based on present supply and conditions.

Mr. Leimo.ll said they should not tie the directors' hands in obtaining information on dried milk. It might well be worth while to spend a few pounds to obtain reliable information. The secretary said the committee appointed at Hawera might well be relied upon to do their utmost in gathering informal ion.

Mr. R. McK. Morison staled lie had recently boon in the Auckland province, and the farmers in the Thames Valley and Waikato were very keen on the question. The advice of the farmers there to the Taranaki men was to go steady till they had received more definite information. "Vou know," he concluded, "I favored cheese last year, but I hope things will be more favorable and that ijm: will jump over cheese and go in for dried milk." (Applause). In reply to Mr Weston, the chairman stated they had received a certain amount of information at Palnierstoti North, but naturally liie Waikato men would not say 100 much. He reminded (hem that the pig industry should also be considered. it had. done very well with them this season. lie did not buy any animals; all w»re bred on his farm. In reply to further questions, lie said the milk would be picked up by motor carriage and taken to the main factory should they go in for dried milk. They should ovoid duplication of plants. TURNIPS AND TAINTED MILK. In reply to a vote of thanks tendered the staff the manager, Mr. Bowman, staled that he endeavored to make a good article, but to do this the raw material must be of the best. A baker could not turn out good bread without the best flour, and the same principle applied to butter. Pasturismg could kill the taint of turnips, but unfortunately it destroyed the flavor and body of the milk. ' He desired all to do their best in sending good, clean milk, and he would do the rest. Mr. Carter wanted to know if the manager found the same deleterious effect in feeding mangolds and carrots as from turnips. Mr. Bowman said that in mangolds and carrots the taint was not so pronounced, but they had to be careful in feeding, The subject then dropped. TURNED DOWN. The air was electrical when Mr. , Power rose to speak. He said he re-I presented some shareholders on the Pembroke road. Mr. Ferguson: Are you a shareholder! Mr. Power: I am addressing the chairman. Mr. Ferguson: Are you a shareholder? Mr. Power: I am speaking to the chairman. Mr. Ferguson: I persist in knowing if you arc shareholder? Mr. Power: I am a shareholder, representing others who are not present. The chairman: Had Mr 'Power been representing some shareholders who were at the front I should let him speak but this is a farmers' meeting and the shareholders Mr. Power represents could very well attend themselves as they have done in the past. I very much regret that 1 cannot hear Mr. Power. Mr. Power: Will the secretary record my objection to the chairman's ruling? Mr. Shotter (heatedly) : How dare you come here! You have no right here whatever! Mr. Morison also objected to Mr. Power's presence. lie was not a shareholder and should not have been present at the meeting. The chairman again expressed his regret that he could not allow Mr. Power to address the meeting, and the incident closed.