PRESENTATION TO MR. DINGLE.

Taranaki Daily News, 30 July 1919, Page 3

PRESENTATION TO MR. DINGLE.

BY STRATFORD DAIRY COMPANY, EARLY DAYS OF DAIRYING IN TAIIANAKI. At the annual meeting of the Stratford Farmers' Co-operative Association on Monday, Mr R. Dingle, who has retired from the chairmanship of the directorate, was presented with a handsome illuminated address framed in oak, and .Mrs Dingle with a .silver tea and eoll'ee service. Mr F. Ranford, chairman of directors, who made the presentations, said that Mr Dingle had worked hard and conscientiously in the interests of the shareholders. He (Mr Ranford) had formed a very high opinion of him during the three.and a-lialf years lie had been associate:! with him. The address read as follows: To Richard Dingle, Esq.—Dear Sir: The Directors and suppliers of the Stratford Co-operative Dairy Company desire to place 011 record thoir appreciation of the splendid service you have rendered to the Company during the long term you have been associated with it. For eighteen years you have bieen a director and for the last sixteen years chairman, and you have during the whole of that time given the business close and earnest attention, and your experience and judgment have been invaluable to the shareholders. When you assumed office the annual output of the Company was about £I7OO. This has now grown to £130,000, which is abundant evidence of the progress made during your term. It must be pleasing to you as it is satisfactory to the suppliers that in your retirement you leave the business in so prosperous: a state. In conclusion we hope that you will live long to enjoy your well-earned rest. With every good wish for Mrs Dingle and yourself,—Signed F. Ranford (chairman), W. H. Werfe, J. G. Falder, M. T. Phillips, W. D. Colson, J. C. Towes, A. Ncedham (directors), and W. Fastier (secretary). Mr Rawles said that with the exception of Mr Lehmann, who started at the same time as himself, he was the oldest continuous supplier to the factory present. He recalled that early in the hi9tory of the association they had difficulty in financing £3OOO, and eleven of the shareholders had to go to the bank and guarantee the amount. Last year they were able to get £35,000 without any "joint and several." He could remember when Mr Dingle came into Stratford from the Plains. Within two years he was made chairman of directors, and the speaker, who had watched things as closely as anyone, could say that he had been a great success. He was a good chairman, never arbitrating in his -meetings, and hrid always allowed all proper freedom in discussion. Mr Dingle had not out-lived his usefulness and in retiring was merely complying with the conditions laid down in the articles. As the representative of the Stratford Model Dairy Farm he would retain his status as a supplier. Mr Were said he had sat on the directorate with Mr Dingle as chairman, oil' and on for a great many years and lie could say that with him dairy fac'tory business always came first. He had known him to fight many a solid battle with butter buyers and "the harder the fight the more'Mr Dingle seemed to enjoy it. It was very fitting that they should recognise not only his services but those of his wife, who had to make many sacrifices in order that her husband might attend to his duties to the association. It had often been necessary for Mr Dingle to go to Wellington on factory business and he had also to attend many conferences. Mr Dingle, in replying, said when he saw their gifts he felt that adequate acknowledgment was impossible. He was the oldest co-operative man in the room, and one of the oldest in Taranaki. His first experience with cooperation was in 1800 at Otakeho. The daily farmers there could only get fourpence per lb for their butter, and be conceived the idea that if thev were connected they might get a little more. They clubbed together, and sent their butter to Wellington, receiving anything from fivepence to sevenpence per lb, the money being paid at the end of the month. From this he saw the possibility of bigger things. It was later decided to start a co-operative society and manufacture cheese. Not many shares were taken up and many laughed at them, but later other companies started. They worked very hard with their factory, but made the mistake one season. of holding on to their output in the hope' of getting better prices. He went tt» Wellington and found that the places there were full of cheese, and it was impossible ,to make a sale. Sir Hany Atkinson helped him out of the difficulty by getting the Gear Company to handle the cheese and advance threepence per lb on it. There wore two tons which had deteriorated in value and were sold by auction for a penny per lb, and the man who put in the bid afterwards repudiated the purchase. The fanners were gettinjg about lid per gallon for their milk. They had eventually to go into liquidation, and those who had signed the join and several were responsible for £llOO. The whole company was later purchased by the Crown 'Dairy Company for £3OOO or £4OOO. A little creamery was then put up from vhich they were getting about Od per lb for their butter-fat. Some time after a factory was put up nt Kaponga and he was chairman of directors for two years. This factory had been Uj : success. They paid at that time 7Jd per lb for butter-fat, and the price, rose in later I seasons to Bd, 9d and lQi He did not come to the Stratford Company as a [new chum. He knew something about "joint and several" liquidations, and prices as low as 3d for butter Concluding, he said that during the eighteen 1 years priofto his retirement he lufd only missed one meeting. He.pointed out that at the present time the company had outside its own buildings £13,000, and if they went into liquidation and everything was sold at valuation fl for every share would be realised. He was leaving the directorate but was not going to forget them. For thirty years lie had been interested in co-operative dairying, and he would continue to take an interest in the industry. He thanked them for their presents on behalf of Mrs Dingle and himself.