LOCAL INDUSTRIES.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 3, Issue 908, 25 October 1881, Page 2

LOCAL INDUSTRIES.

[To the Editor of tho Daily.] Sir—Ncv the coming elections fire the all-absorbing theme, and your columns are filled daily with matters connected therewith, it is only the importance of the milk condensing industry to the district which induces ine to ask you for a space in your valuable paper, so that I may lay before the public my ideas and knowledge on the subject. Dairy farming being now carried on to a large extent throughout tho Wairarapa, but especially in the vicinity of Featherston and Groytown, the low prices now ruling for butter and cheese (wo hear of sales in Wellington of the former from 4jd to 6d, and tho latter 3|d to 4d) behoves the settlers to look to another channel through which they may utilise the products of their farms., It is a well-known fact that the buttor and cheese being manufactured in Now Zealand are largely in excess of local consumption, and experience shows thatshipping to England in any ships carrying wool, unless they have a cool apartment expressly for daily produce, simply means a heavy loss to the shippers. The Orient Company's steamers running from Melbourne, and die probability of vessels shortly to be laid on between London and New Zealand—with apart inents specially adapted for butter—has not yet had the effect of advancing prices in this market. Upon referring to the European Mail—received from Home last week—l find the following quotations : Butter (Cork), 108s to 120s per cwt; butter (American), 80s to 120s per cwt; cheese (American), 50s to 56s per cwt Now, unless we adopt the factory system, and by doing so be able to place an article of pood and uniform quality upon the London market (and even allowing for the greatest -success in transit), I do not think the prices our butter would fetch would be equal to the above quotations. I am informed the cost of shipping per steamer from Melbourne, in cool apartments, insurance commissions, &c, amount to something like 2jd per lb. Therefore, upon taking this into 1 consideration, I deem it advisable that a company should be floated for the purpose of milk, making a limited quantity of 'butier,-raiid ; the necessary Bequel to this—a bacon factory, I am not only prepared to show that if a Company starts it will give a market for

ynur milk at the prices named in estimate —which will give so much cash businoss around the district—hut by the results shown would give the highest dividend of any industry ever brought before the public in this colony, If the settlers were shareholders they would not only get a cash market for their produce, but would participate in the profits accruing from the sale of the manufactured article in the open markets of the world. Within the last year factories have been established at Kiama, in New South Wales, and'Wycheproof, in Victoria. At the latter place thoy pay 4d per gallon for milk, and lOd per lb for butter, Condensed milk has been selling hero, retail, say Is per lib tin, with a ready sale during the winter months, but in Adelaide and Melbourne the merchants are being supplied from the local factories at 6s per doz, lib tins.

1,000 gallons of milk, manufactured, amounts to 3250 lbs (see estimate). ' Tins can be made on the premises at, say, Id, and the plant to make them will cost about £'3o.

The machinery and plant necessary for condensing 1,000 gallons per day would cost £1,300 in Melbourne, but if it could be manufactured in New Zealand at a proportionate price, so much the better. Machinery could be ordered to condense less than the above amount, but the profits would decrease in a ratio to the amount manufactured. Now, with regard to site for factory, I think somewhere within the vicinity of Greytown. The Company which is being floated there, with enlarged capital, would be able to carry on the industry which I advocate. It is stated that at Matarawa alone there are 204 cows.

If suitable premises could be leased it would save the Company an outlay ol capital. The machinery could not be obtained and erected before next season,

I think a company formed for the purpose of condensing milk would have no difficulty in getting the Government to guarantee a bonus, payable upon a certain amount being manufactured. Any information with regard to working manager, salary he would require, &c, I will give upon application. I may slate my principal has a patent process for packing butter and cheese in " vacue," by which they can be preserved and sent round to any part of the world, and for which I should have to make arrangements if used, In the following estimate the cost of sugar is based upon its cost in Victoria ; in order to allow for increased price here, it might he necessary, perhaps to give a farthing per gallon less for milk ; Estimated cost of condensing 1000 gallons of milk in Victoria. £ s i) lOOOgals. of milk tUily Hi 13 i Sugar ior same 11 5 0 32.50 tins 13 10 10 Labor, packing cases, soldering... 13 10 10 £55 0 0 3250 tins of condensed milk at Gd 81 5 0 Gross profit per day ~. £26 5 0 From the above profit must be deducted the cost of fuel, carriage, commission, &c. lam informed that 10 per cent, on gross sides should cover these charges. Wear and tear of machinery, and rent of premises must also be taken into consideration, but I venture to predict a handsome profit for any company embarking in the speculation, irrespective of the benefit to the district in general by the maufacture and exportation of surplus produce, I am, &c, V. 11. Sutton.