Public Meeting at, Te Awamutu.

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

Public Meeting at, Te Awamutu.

A meeting of the farmers and residents, was held in the Public Hall, on Saturday night. There werenearly< eighty people preseut, aud the chair was occupied by Mr Cunningham. The Chairman in opening the proceedings, having read the advertisement in The Waikato Times convening the meeting, said it was not necessary for him to tell them that the farming industry just then was in a very depressed condition ; and that if they could possibly bring their produce into a better market than the one with which they were obliged to deal at present, it would be a considerable benefit to all of'them. He was df opinion that the factory which they contemplated erecting for the manufacture of chees£ would not only save the farmers a great amount of time and labour, but would also be a 3ource of income to all who exerted themselves in, the .welfare of, and had an interest in' the concern. A factory of this kind if properly, managed, and carried on with proper economy ought to pay. They were in. the centre of an extensive country, more suitable for grazing thaa for cropping, and within a radius of three or four miles there would be a sufficient number of cows kept to keep a 'cheese factory'going. For the produce of the factory be believed a suitable market would be found in England, or some country other than New Zealand, where better prices could be obtained, and thus enable the fanners to make more out of their land than at present. He had not, however, come prepared, to submit for their consideration any. plans or figures in reference to the establishment of such an industry in their midst, but believed there were others present who had attended with that intention, and no doubt these gentlemen would let them have the result of their experience on the subject. He would call to their "minds the fact that companies on the co-operative principle for the manufacture of cheese as well as the preparing of other produce for the market were being established all over Waikato, and he believed co-opera-tion was a step in 'the right direction. If they could possibly float a company in that district he thought it would be much better than that the concern should be monopolised by a few. The speaker concluded by inviting Mr Scott, 'of Pateiangi,to let the meeting have the result of his experience in the manufacture of cheese. Mr Bell asked if any gentleman present had any idea as to the price the farmers would receive for their milk, to which The Chairman replied that the usual practice in regard to the remuneration of the milk contributors was to give them a percentage on the profits of the factory, and not any given price for their milk. This, however, would depend entirely upon the arrangement made. Mr Scott said he was not prepared to tell them what it would cost to start a cheese factory in Te Awamutu, but the could give them an idea of the size -of buildings required, as well as the number of cows requisite to the carrying on of a factory. For a cheese factory of any pretentious they would have to get a guarantee of 500 cows, and this number was necessary to make it pay. A factory with 300 cows would take ■as many jhands to work it, as a factory of 500 cows. The way in which the Canadian factories were worked was as follows: —The farmers sent in their milk to the factory, which charged them so much per pound to make their cheese, and beyond this the farmers had nothing to do with the making of it whatever. The price per pound for making was generally a cent and a half j but he believed the price had lately been lowered. He knew of one factory which turned out cheese' for less than a dent per pound, but that could not be done in Waikato. In the first place they could not get the appliances so cheap, as these would have to be imported from Canada or the Uniiied' States,- If "they contemplated proceeding to business properly, he would recommend them to get a manager from the United States, who could be instructed to bring a plant out with him. Some of the proposals made by Capt.Runciman in reterence to sending home some, person,to bring, out a manager, •''involved' needless expenditure, and it would absorb all the profits to do so. For a factory utilizing the milk'of 500 cows would be required a drying room about 30ft. by 20ft., a press room about 15 x 20, and a make room about 15 x 30. As to the,price they might expect to receive for their cheese, he would tell them that he had seen the best Canterbury cheese sold by auction in Auckland for 3id and 4d a pound, and he did not think" they could make cheese in Waikato to pay at that price. He" had seen that Captain Runciman had proposed buying the milk and giving 4d per galfon, but as it took a gallon of milk>to make a pound of cheese he thought there would be very little left for the maker. Mr H. Roche enquired whether or not the bacon industry was worked in con> nection with the cheese factory, feeding the pigs on the whey, at the, factory., Mr Scott replied that in many cases it was, and he believed it would pay the fanner to keep pigs on his own property. Mr Bond asked if there was ever any difference made on the price given farmers for the milk ; were they paid according to its quality? - ~ Mr Scott replied that .there- waa no difference made whatsoever. The milk was all weighed as it came into the factory, and each farmer got credit for the weight of milk fetched in. Of course, the article was tested at times to see' that there was no water in it. The contributers to the factory had all to,, send in their milk twice a day, morning and evening. Mr Bond enquired how much cheese 500 cows would turn out daily. Mr. Scoit replied jthat l' he could calculate that in the ratio of one pound' of cheese to the gallon; He said ■ that- one great • difficulty which would be 'experienced in this country was, that the milk wouldfhaVe to be brought long distances, andP_'it would have to be'given ' intO the faciory at 8 o'clock in the morning,-' it could 'hardly be expected ! that<" people -would •rise at such an early hour so as to enable them to have all their cows milked and the milk conveyed four or five miles to the factory before '&ias'!&{&' & Mr Bond knew milkmen in town who had to brjng'^h>|r, #KiP ffpriher distances, and who were always in town before that hour in the morning.' JThe whey tof the milk generally^ we'rit'tdtfattenlpjgs, and>what,therefor6 became o£, the; profits b~n the pigs? , , S -', ,<■ -<tt' \ u : ty , Mr Scott replied that each contributor

would get a certain proportion of the Whey, according to th,e quantity of milk he contributed. _ K Mr Slonne .remarked that there was such a thing as waste, and wanted to know what was allowed for that, to which Mr Scott replied that there was very little waste. Mr Sloane maintained that there tnnst be some waste unless pigs were fed, and to this, Mr Scott replied that each contributor got a certain proportion of the whey to feed his pigs, and it was no trouble whatever for them to take it away when they came with their milk. Mr Churches asked if the factory ineonje fetched the milk, or had the fifenera to deliver it. Mr Scott replied that the milk had always to be brought to the factory. The way in which this was generally done was : One of the farmers took the carrying contract for a certain time, and gathered all the milk along the road twice a day. It would not do to bring the milk only once a day. In reply to a question Mr Scott said the factory only worked during the summer months. Mr H. Roche enquired the probable cost of starting such an industry in Te Awamutu. Mr Scott replied that the vat would be the principal thing aud they could noi get that made here. They would have to get it from the United States, and he could not tell them what it would cost— probably not more than £20. This would be the dearest item. ' Mr Roche : Would it cost £500 to construct the buildings and everything else in connection with the business ? Mr Scott : Before giving an answer on that matter I would have to go into the cost of the material and other matters of detail. The site would want to be close to a good water. Mr Jones : Would a running stream of good pure water not answer the purpose as well ? Mr Scott : Yon would require very clear water, and very good. Such a stream as the Mangahoi would do. Mr Bond thought they could get a better market for their produce than Auckland. Mr R. Roche said that the Canterbury cheese got a good market in England, and he belie veu they could make as good cheese in Waikato as in Canterbury. Mr Roche enquired if 6d a pound would pay. Mr Scott replied that it would pay well. In Canada last year the cheese was sold for 4d, and that paid, some of it had sold for Gd, but the principal portion of the cheese was sent to England. Mr Jones said that doubtless he (Mr Scott) would recollect that at the time he was speaking of there wasa great prejudice against Canadian cheese. There was then scarcely any person that would allow it to be put on his table ; but the quality had so improved of late that good American cheese was worth Sd per pound. If they could always depend upon getting 5d for the cheese that would pay. , Mr .Scott remarked that he had seen cheese made up for less than a cent per pound for making. Mr R. Roche enquired whether the factories referred to were Avorked by private enterprise or on the co-operative principle, to which Mr Scott replied that they wexe private enterprises geneially. Mv Scott TCUV&tked tUat tl\o cheese was made both morning and evening, the morning's milk during the day, and the evening's during the night. The hands required would be two men for the clay shift, and the same for the night shift, making four in all, together with <i manager. The cheese in Canada was generally steeped after being stored for about three months, consequently they would see a store room attached to the factory was indispensable. Mr Hunt enquired what would be done with the hands during the winter months. Mr Scott replied, that as the manager was paid an annual salary, of course, they would find employment for him during the winter months. In reply to another question, Mr Scott said that after the milk was delivered at the factory there was no other expense for the producer to bear. In reply to Mr Cunningham, Mr Scott said that at the factories in which he had experience the milk was always delivered by the producer. At the present price of cheese in Auckland it would not pay to give cow- keepers Id a quart for their milk. Mr Ramsay submitted for inspection a piece of cheese which he had brought from Auckland, aud which had been made in j Wairoa. It was delivered in the store at Auckland at 4^l, It had been sold at auction, and before the maker got his 4id, rent, auctioneer's fees, and the cost of all carriage and deliveries had to be paid. In reply to a question, Mr Bell said a person would require to get 5d a pound so as to make cheese pay in this district. Mr R. Roche thought if they could get 6d a pound in the old country it would pay well, and this was likewise the opinion of Mr Teasdale. Mr Roche thought the home market would be the only market, and there they would be sure to get 6d. Captain Runciman's report on cheese factories in The Waikato Times was read to the meeting by the chairman. Mr H. Roche wanted to know if the farmers would be willing to give their milk for Id a quart. If they would do so then he could understand their proceeding in the matter. He had heard farmers say it would not pay them to sell their milk at Id a quart, as they could get lOd for their butter. Mr Scott questioned whether they could make cheese in Te Awamutu for Id per pound. The Chairman said there was one feature mentioned by Mr Scott which would add greatly to the expense of running the factory. The milk had to be worked up twice a day, thus necessitating a relay of hands. Men like Mr Bell who made cheese on their own account made up the milk once a day. They would thus see tfiafc by the milk having to be worked up twice a day it would add considerably to expense of the factory. Mr Scott remarked that when milk was brought for about five or six miles and exposed to the sun, it would not keep for any length of time and thus it was necessary to make it up as soon as it came it. In the ease of such makers as Mr Bell, or any other settler who made cheese at home, the milk had not to be carted and consequently could be kept over a day. Mr Sloane said he had a few remarks to make on the matter of cheese making. In the London market at the present time good cheese was worth 9|d, and it was evident they would have to look for some foreign market for their produce, tts thgy had not a sufficient population in Auckland. A market could easily be found in Europe aud he had never yet known good cheese sold in the Home markets under Bd. He himself had paid Is 6d a pound for cheese. If there were not a market in London, there were other markets in other patts of the world which certainly would pay. As to the _ cost of making the cheese, there was 4d to be allowed for milk, Id for making, and Id for expense. Then there was the expense of building the factory and a percentage to be added for borrowed ' capital. A sinking fund was also to be provided for. Notwithstanding all this expense, let them send their cheese to London and

they would there get 8d or 9d for it, perhaps a shilling. There was not the slightest doubt that a factory would pay. The sale of the cheese was one source of their profit and the whey from tho milk was another. By feeding their pigs on whey and boiling them down and sending the lard to London they could get 8d a pound for it. Mr H. Roche thoroughly agreed with Mr Sloane. Supposing the cheese in the London market only brought 7d. according to what Mr Scott had said, the cowkeepers would get Id per quart for their milk, and if they did they would be handsomely remunerated. The pig feed was another thing to be considered. He consequently believed they would be taking a very judicious step in establishing a factory. If Auckland could not consume what they produced, they had got the whole world as a market, which i was another consideration. Cheese sold for a higher price in Calcutta. Mr Bridgman thought if 5d would pay a private individual, 4d ought surely to pay a company. Mr R. Roche then proposed the following resolution, "That in the opinion of tins meeting it is desirable that the proprietors of Canadian factories should be communicated with, asking the cost of machinery necessary for carrying on a cheese factory capable of utilizing the milk of 500 cows, and also if the services of a competent manager could be obtained." This was seconded by Mr Churches. Mr Jones proposed as an amendment " That a committee consisting of Me&ars Hnnt, Scott, and Churches be appointed to gather all necessary information as to the cost of forming and carrying on a cheese factory." Seconded by Mr Parsons. The original motion having been withdrawn, the amendment was put to the meeting and carried unanimously. The meeting then dispersed.