EKETAHUNA DAIRY FACTORY

Wairarapa Times-Age, 14 December 1943, Page 4

EKETAHUNA DAIRY FACTORY

(To the Editor.) Sir, —As one who is deeply interested in the town of Eketahuna and its future welfare I am disturbed to think that we have allowed the “Eketahuna Dairy Company, Ltd.” to be shut down by a group of so-called zoners. Are we all aware that at this moment cream from the Eketahuna district is being manufactured into butter at the Mauriceville Dairy Factory, and to all intents and purposes the local factory has ceased operations? To me the worst feature of the whole affair is that everything connected with this business has been transacted behind closed doors. No publicity whatever, has been given to it, and to my knowledge no satisfactory reply has been received from the Government by those who led a large deputation from here to put the matter before the Prime Minister last July. Surely this is a sorry state of affairs. I say, that now is the time for us all to be up and doing. It is not too late. Once the factory is demolished it will be so for all time. If we want it to continue I consider that we have a splendid case, but the matter is tremendously urgent, and if we are to do anything we must do it now. May I suggest that our leaders- in town and country, and the directors of the local Dairy Company put everything before the public, give it the full and liberal publicity it deserves, and having done so, I feel that when the whole story is told that every member of the community, if he values justice as a part of our British constitution, will be behind them to the last ditch. Surely if we have any pride in our town, and if we have any British blood in our veins, we cannot do otherwise than demand that the right and decent thing should be done —i.e., that the factory be allowed to continue operations. And so I would ask the residents of this town and district, and especially my fellow business men: Do we really want this factory to be forcibly shut down? Are we at all perturbed at the fact that some four families will have to seek pastures new? Are we vitally concerned in the matter? If we are, then are we to allow these zoning officials to strike this mortal blow at our fair town? In my opinion there is but one answer: Stop them! —I am, 'etc., MAGNUS W. PRIEST. Eketahuna, December 13. AN ALLEGATION DENIED (To the Editor.) Sir, —The report that the soldiers engaged on the contract presses received nothing but water to drink, is not only untrue, but a slur on the farmers’ wives who cheerfully walk long distances carrying fresh buns, cakes and hot tea, in some cases four times a day. —I am, etc., “ONE OF THE WIVES.” Masterton, December 14.

Thq statement challenged by our correspondent (made by Mr R. W. Kebbell at the meeting of the Wairarapa Provincial Executive of the Farmers’ Union) was that the soldiers alleged that in some instances they had been given only water to drink. —Ed.