Public Meeting at Hamilton.

Waikato Times, Volume XVIII, Issue 1527, 18 April 1882, Page 2

Public Meeting at Hamilton.

A meeting of those interested in the establishment of ft cheese and bacon factory in the neighbourhood of Hamilton was held at the Royal Hotel, Hamilton East, on Saturday night. The chair was* occupied by Mr S. T. Seddon and there were present: —Capts. Steele and Runciman, Messrs. B. Wood, James Hunie^ I. Coates. Jno. Mar'tyn, jun., Joseph Coch-' rane, Knox, Beauchamp, Jr Coleman/ Barwell, J. Wood; Paton, J. Barugh, jun., Shaw, H. H. Swarbrick, Jno. Cochraue, and W. M. Hay. The Chairman in opening the proceedings said they were met together to form a company for the manufacture of cheese and bacon. For many years, as they well knew, their staple products hadbeen meat and potatoes, meat and potatoes; meat was however, becoming a drug in the market and it was high time they changed their diet. It had been proposed to form a company under the Limited Liabilities Act, and he had no doubt that it would prove successful. He was a thorough believer in co-operation. He then called upon Capt. Runciman to place his proposals (before the meeting. Capt. Runciman said the matter had occupied his mind for the last five or six years. He had made an effort to put his scheme into operation when he lived at Hautapu, taking milk from a number of his neighbours. He had given it a three months trial to practically test the question and it was found to work fairly well. Ever since that time his mind had been engrossed with the subject, but, having disposed of his farm and entered upon the work of making a new one, no opportunity had up to the present been afforded him to again put his scheme into practice, for he was unwilling to ask others to engage in an enterprise in which he himself did not join and accept <i portion of the risk. The price of meat, they were aware, had gone below zero, and consequently something of the nature of what he proposed was absolutely necessary. He then proceeded to read his proposals, which are substantially the same as published in these columns a few days ago. The calculations are based upon a supply of milk from ten farmers, eacli providing the milk of ten cows, at the rate of three gallons per cow per day for eight months mthe year, at 4d per clay. It had been objected that the 3cheme could not be taken advantage of by the small farmers, but he wished to assure them that it was intended to apply to all. It was necessary, however, that ten farmers should guarantee the quantity named above^ bub he did not mean they should conclude that 300 gallons was the maximum quantity of nnlk which could be taken by the factory. He had prepared a rough balance-sheet, which he read as follows :—: —

Leaving- a credit balance of £124 4s lod. lii reply to a question by Mr Beauchamp, as to how a fanner could raise his calves if he disposed of all his milk to the factory, Captain Runciman said it would be quite possible to givt the calves milk for the first two months, as it was a very poor cow which did not give more than three gallons of milk per diem. The Chairman said the thanks of the community were due to Captain Runciman for his statement. If there was anything in the • statement which was not clearly understood he had no doubt Captain Runciman would be glad to afford any explanation. It was of the utmost importance that they should understand the scheme. He would throw t it out as a suggestion that if they contemplated purchasing the site for the factory it would be well to raise the capital. Capt. Runciman said he had given this matter milch consideration. It was highly necessary that a spring of pure water should be at hand. He had inspected several proposed sites, and was personally in favor of selecting that on the property of Capt. McPherson, near the top of the cutting. At this place there was an excellent .spring of water issuing from a gravel bed. The Qhairman thought it best not to get to the tail of the matter before they got to the head. •, Capt. Runciman said Capt. McPherson had offered them 70 acres of land on lease for 10 years, at a rental of £50 for the first year, with a purchasing clause, the price to be £20 per acre. The Chairman said they ought to consider the question of capital before they determined the site, which could be left to the shareholders. ,'Capt. .SteeTe said he was <very much pleased with the way in which the matter had been put before" the meeting. Now was the time to dispute .the figures adduced. For his own part he was not in a position to dispute their accuracy, though he was of opinion that they were well within the mark. Something on the lines laid down by Capt. Runciman was required, * and nothing would tend more to increase the prosperity of the farmers, large and small. ' If a man had more land than he knew what to do with he could let it to people who could turn their industry to profitable account. ' He would move " That it is most desirable that a cheese and bacon factory be established in some central position' in the neighborhood of Hamilton, and that immediate and effective measures be taken for its accomplishment." This was seconded by Mr Coates, and carried unanimously. Mr Beauchamp moved " that the capital be £2500 in 2500 shares of £1 each, lOs.paid up,.ls on application, Is on :allotmenu, and'thfe balance in Is calls at intervals of not less* than one month as required, at^the discretion 1 "6f the directors." , ' r This was seconded^ by Capt. Ituncimau, and carried without 'dissent. '_ %I , ' On the motion of Mr'Humo 'seconded Tby Mr Cochrane a provisional directorate 'was formed', consisting of the folio wjrig : — Capts"., Steele and -Runciman,' Me'ssjrs Seddon,* Coates, Knox^'B. ' Wood, Gillett and the mover •' ' ' - 1 ' ' The question df' sending a representative to America was then brought up. Catto^SteeJe thought it ' highly necessary ,thaf r soine one should qo 1 , in order to obtain theproper machinery,' 1 &c. " 'Cap*. Runciman had lciEdly agreed "'to' g6 if it were thought a^visaole, He, thought the %ssb'ciatiW about f to 1 be" formed at Te Awamutu might be asked td towards;the'cost. : 'If "the, Te Awamutu people would' not agfee T! t6 'send Cajjt. Runciman,, and. had s a;mqre experienced man, lie, 'for one,' would' 'bd"ih favor of cooperating wi|hVJhem,. He mowd ""^ thaHt is deSirable^to send a repre|en T - 'tatiye'la Anieriba^' ,*He of .opinipn '|hat' tHe lWqpey^ece'ss^ry/ t&'/pay.the peiiseg'of thV trip- should .'- be guavaiit^ecj

by the promoters. — It would be desirable that their representative should prooeed to America as soon as possible. The motion was carried. Capt. Runciman desired it to be made known that the promoters did not wish in any way to work* in opposition to the (Jo- operative Association about to be formed. He wished this to be distinctly understood. On the motwn^of.Capjb. ,Steele it was agreed that another; meeting should be called for that night week, for the purpose of cohsideririg^the^prospectus, and transacting other- business^ -in> connection with the sfcheme. „ ' •r * - This was all the business, and, the usual -vote- of, thanks -having-been^ac^ corded the chairman, -. those. t present*d^g* persed.

To interest on £1000 capital „ purchase of milk „ labor .. „ rent ... „ ioo store pigs „ interest on overdraft ... „ contingencies ;£IOO O O 1000 o o 300 o o 50 o o 37 10 o 50 o o So o o £1612 10 o CB. Isy 60,0001b5. cheese, at 5d „ i6,i34lbs. bacon, at 711 „ i.ooolbtf. lard... ... £»» 25°2 5° 0 ° " .;. 470 o o 16 13 6 £1737 4 10