Raetihi Dairy Company closes its doors

Waimarino Bulletin, Volume 3, Issue 7, 9 July 1985, Page 3

Raetihi Dairy Company closes its doors

After forty years of business, the Raetihi Pasteurised Milk Supply Company closed its doors for the last time last week. It was in March 1943 that an application to erect a dairy factory in Ballance Street was considered by the Raetihi Borough Council. Mr Ron Jones, who had been working for the Ward Brothers delivering milk for several years, attended the meeting to support the application. The scheme was approved and Mr Jones was involved with running the business until 1979. Prior to its closure the milk factory was

run by his son Peter. In recent years the company has supplied milk to the whole of the Waimarino area, including National Park, the Chateau, Waiouru including the military camp, Ohakune and Raetihi. However, the region's small population meant the company could not supply milk as cheaply as the larger factories. As a result the Raetihi factory was forced to close and on the last working day (Friday 28 June) present and former employees gathered at the Ballance Street factory for a farewell "shout'\

The Raetihi factory will be used temporarily as a cool-store until a decision is made as to where a permanent depot will be built. Sites in both Ohakune and Waiouru are being considered.

Mr Peter Jones hastaken a post as product manager at the Palmerston North milk processing factory. Two houses owned by the milk company will be offered for sale in the near future.