TE AWAMUTU.

Waikato Times, Volume XXII, Issue 1857, 31 May 1884, Page 2

TE AWAMUTU.

SiN'Ci: tho making of cheese at the factory h.ts ceased, the manufacture of bacon has been actively carried on by Mr W. Bond. Fifty thieo pigs, of an average weight of loOlb-s, have been killed, and the bacon is now almost leady for smoking. Many of these pigs wore quite small when bought at the beginning of the »ca*<>n. The great mciv.iie m weight shows that whey with the addition of a little sharps is better food th.in many at fiist thought, the poik being of excellent flavour. Poik hung in the butchers' shops, and libelled "Factory fed' wai bought leadily by the customers, many of whom when buying this class of meat enquired if it was "factory poik.'' Under the»e conditions— favourable a«. they have been— and in the hand-> of an experienced man, the bacon should command a high price in tho maiket. A combination of circumstance-!, over which the ducctor-, had no control, put the company during the past season to a coiisideiable amount of expense, but now that everything has bjen placed on a satisfactory and permanent bisis the factory will be as great a success financially as it has. been in the production of cheese," some seventy tons of which was made timing the season, and of which only about five or six tons aie on hand. Many who at tir^t ridiculed the idea of a cheese factory being successfully woiked heie wero glad enough to supply milk la.st season at tlu much despised Lite of 3jd per gallon. Expeiience pioved that even at this low iigiue tho milk paid them much better than butter making with its attendant hard work and uncertainty. The establishment of the Co-opeiative As-s xjiatimi will greatly facilitate tin e\p >it of cheese, as doubtless the expense of expoiting through the a-s )ci:ition will be much less than tlnough ceitam other companies, which charge the moderate commission of 15 per cent., at least the expenses amounted to that sum. It could hardly be expected with such a handicap as tins there would be much piotit left for the company. While on the subject of the Co-operative Association I may remark on the apathy displayed by the farmers in this distuct in not supporting it better. One wnter in your papei complained that his district had iiofc been canvassed. Now, the movement was instituted solely lor tho benefit of the agricultiuists, and it seems lidiculous th-it they should lequiio to be run after to take shares. They cannot plead ignorance of the objects of the association, for the prospectus was adveitised long enough in Tl c Waiknto Tunes, nor should they require to be dunned to take, a part in a scheme for the improvement of their circumstances. Yet such has been the case. A local agent was appointed to lecene applications, and it was ea->y en «ugh to apply to him, but no, the agent inu&t call a»d aigue the point with them, and show the advantages of co-operation ; tho reply after perhaps an hour's talk was : " Call again, and in the meantime I will think the matter o\er," as if the canvasser had nothing else to do but ride five or six miles foi five shares. A great many on being applied to afterwards had not thought tho matter o\er. The next thing they will lequiie is to have a man sent round to collect calls, and when a divfdend comes to be paid, cnll and leave it at the house. In fact, one man w.mted to know if tho company would send round and buy his eggs and butter at Ins door, and when told that such a thing was impossible, declined to take shares, but when the association is in full swing and doing business these people will be the first to try and secure s me of the advantages, thus trading on other men's capital. The same thing occurred when the cheese factory was started, but after the first season's experience the directors very wisely made every supplier become a shaichokler. Of course the association cannot confine their business to shareholders only, but when those who refused to assist see the profits -divided among those who did they will regret their folly in not entitling themselves to the same advantages. There are many of course whom want of means at present prevents taking shares, but who, when they can manage it, will gladly do so, and willingly pay all back calls, but there is a greater nuinbei who have not the same excuse. — (Own Correspondent.)