PROPOSED CHEESE FACTORY AT CAMBRIDGE.

Waikato Times, Volume XXIII, Issue 1885, 5 August 1884, Page 2

PROPOSED CHEESE FACTORY AT CAMBRIDGE.

In pursuance of advertisement in The Waikato Times a meeting of settle] s was held in the Criterion Hot-1, Cambiidsje, on Saturday evening last, for the purpose of considering a proposal to s>tart a cheese factory. Theie were over twenty settlers present, who fairly represented the agricultural interests of the district. Mr J. H. Smith was voted to the chair. Mr Hugh Ferguson in opening the proceedings, said that all present were doubtless awaie of the necessity and advisability of having such an industiy in their midst. He had expected that another and perhaps a better man would have been present to address them on the subject, but all must be agreed, lie thought, that a cheese factory was w.uited. Small holders could not make so much out of their land under present circumstances, as they could by taking advantage of such an industry as that proposed. They could not go into the fattening of cattle against the laiger holders ; and there was a much larger scope here for a cheese factoiy than in some other districts. He had therefore called the present meeting, which would probably have been much more laigelv attended had many settlers not been kept away by the hunt. The Chairman remarked that they weie not justified in waiting any longer in the hope of a larger meeting. He cjnite agreed with Mr Fergusons remarks as to the necessity foi a factory, and it was for the meeting to see how they could support one, and put matters into shape, by deciding whether both sides, of the river should combine, and wheie the site of the factory should be. Mr John Hill, pioceeding to addresthe meeting at this stage was interrupted by Mr S. Blight, who after a long oration in which he touched at considerable length upon almost every subject except the one under discussion concluded by moving: — "That it lsdesirable that a cheese and bacon factory be established in the Cambridge distiict '' Tins was seconded by Mr Hugh Feiguson. Mi John Rnnciman moved an ameud ment, " That in the interest of the district it was not desirable that a factory should (jb established. " He asserted that figures showed that cheese and bacon factoiies were not a success financially, and further ■-titcd that there was not one man in t!i" room who Mas worth 10s in the € of what he represented himself to be if they devoted their time and laud to the production of cheese and bacon under the factory system. Mr Ruucitnan's amendment was not seconded. The chairman called upon Capfc. Runciman who was present to address the meeting A somewhat lively scene ensued. Mr Blight demanded that his resolution should be forthwith, put to the meeting, and proceeded to instruct the chairman as to his duty amidst cues of •' Chair," " sit down," " order," " put him out " &c, the undaunted Mr Bright resolutely declining to do either. MrT. Wells rose to a point of order, stating that Mr John Runciman's amendment being a direct negative to the original lesolution was informal, and it wat therefore open to the meeting to discuss the pioposition. Capt. Runcim.in expressed his willing' ness to impart any information upon tlu important subject under discussion, which lay in his power. They had ah e.idy heaul his views on the matter, sc ho thought he could not do better than show them the result of what the f ictoi\y that he had taken an mteiest in had done. It was well-known that a bettei article was produced by the factories than by the piivate dailies. Capt. Runciniau bete referred in detail to the ie^ poi tof the annual meeting of the Wai kato Factory publishod in a lecent is-stu of The W.iikaco Times That report showed that £1,800 hrd been actually taken out of the giound and transform^ to the pockets of the fanneis without the farms being deteuor.ited in the least, i! the company with which he was connec ted had paid 3Vd per gallon instead of 4ii foi milk, a dividend of 10 pei cent, couli 1 have been paid to the sliareholdeis, in stead of then being a deficit as at piesent. The price given by other factories in the di&tiict was only 3^l. He would under take to say that tlieie w 'b not one mar present who had made tS per he id of his cows during the piecedmg year, aiulthej must remember that the cows fiom -which this revenue had beer (leaved had been indiscriminate!) gathered. Besides this they had reaiec calves, and they fully recUonei; on next yeai's income being one-thirJ greater, as it took some time to get s business such as this into working order. In future they fully expected to make £10 per cow for the eight months dining which the factory would be at woi U The icport as published in The Waikato Times was a faithful report, and he was (]iute rearlv to answer any questions the meeting should put to him on the subject;. Mr Rhodes asked for a fuller explana tion of the profit and loss account as published. He had not noticed any item of charges such as coal, &c. What had become of these expenses ? Capt. R.rnciman replied that the item of salaiies covered these charges. He admitted that the leport might have been a little more explicit in this respect, but was certain that £200 was the total amount paid as wages, and the balance of the amount put down as salaiies covered all minor charges. Mr Rhodes congratulated Captain Runciman on the economical way in which the factory had been managed, He also would draw attention to the tact that no charge v»as made for depreciation of piopeity, and wear and tear. Mr John Fislier asked if as much could be made hi any other way out of the grass;. Capt Runciman said that fully 100 % moie was made than could be done any other way, and what he had made out of his connection with the factory had been got by two hours' work morning and evening, without any additional ex pense for labour being incurred. (Mr Rhodes : Less £21 for carriage.) Capt, Runciman admitted the oversight. This took £1 off each cown, and showed what }d a gallon would do. Mr Rhodes explained that the reason of his remark was to show that Jd in the gallon meant £1 off each man's cow in the season. Mr John Runciman asked how much expense had been incurred by Capt. Runciman for milking ? Capt. Runciniau- replied that it was impossible to work a farm without hands, and that he had incurred no extra expense for labour during the past year. Mr Wells asked w-ould Captain Itunciman eiy if in addition to his own experience, and his statement that a decrease of id a gallon the industry would still pay ; did he know that the 19 other farmers who supplied the same factory were of the same opinion ? Were any of them sorry they had gone into the business ? * Captain Runciman, emphatically : Not one. On the contrary they were aU going to increase their herds. Mr Seddon who had so far done the worst of any of the shareholders, through having to employ more labour, was so far satisfied that -be intended to increase his supply. Mr Rhodes wanted to know if the •proposed factory was going to be a financial success ; not. as regarded the dairy farmers*outlay who got a paying •Market for their, milk, but the shareholders. How about a dividend for the ''shareholders ?•- Shareholders^ could pot aiwayis* .be ' satisfied., with Ipayibg 'the farmer for;, supplying them .unless they ieceiyM^jßomWßubsfcantialUpi-qfit tbeW 86lvc&i t J Could *"tho'**-cojupany sell S th 6 ,^^Oap^[}i|^tt^e|n^|^ated that yßlOOjD^

Waikato factory only half was called up, and for the short time money was requited it was bettsr to pay interest to tiie bank than to call up more per share Next year it was their intention to pay quarterly, and so save interest. Any farmers requiting their vooaey monthly could get it by allowing 2.V for discount. Again the Waikato Company had £700 lying idle in land. They had about 60 acres, and he had discoveied during his trip through America that from six to ten aeies was quite sufficient. Mr John Runciman : You say those who supply at present rates are well satisfied. Will they be satisfied with 3d or 5Hd per gallon ? Captain Runciman : Mr Seddon, who employs all labour, will continue an increase at 3Vd. . Mr Hill said it was a good thing to pay lann hands a farthing a gallon extra. Mr Watt said that good milkers were wanted in the district. He knew men down South who would milk 23 cows twice a day. Mr F. O'Neill wanted to know how the Waikato factory would be affected if Id a pound was taken ofiffchp estimated price of their cheese, like the Te Awamutu cheese? Captain Runciman said it had been found by experience that lOlbs of milk would not make lib of cheese on the average, which was 15 ounces, and by the latent English quotations) the cheese by the Doric fetched €63 a ton, and inferior £30 a ton. At present the freight was excebsive, an-\ the cost" of the boxes v\as a pound. (A \oice; How about the railway charges ?) The i.iilwav charges were our 'wn doinj, and it we stick together that would soon be remedied. Mr Wells suggested that the word butter be inserted in the lesolution From his own experience, whatever might be the fate of cheese, if the factory made good batter there was a large 6eld and a certain piofit (ITe-n, hear.) Sevoial of the farmer-, in the district had m idu i tdirly s?ood ehe -so, but it would not compaie \\ ith the clieesf, ot the factory He thought it liaidly right to allow Mr John Runciman's iem.uk to pass unchallenged It was wrong of anyone to endeavour to stifle an industry or to tlnow cold water upon it without substituting something for it. All credit was due to those who had convened the meeting to show them a way ont of then difficulties. At present there was a certain amount of depression, but he was confident the Cambridge settlers would pull themselves out of it. Mr John Runciman said that he spoke in the interest of the district, and was guided by figures. Ca.pt. Runciman suggested that the HOids "dairy produce" should l >e inseited in the resolution, t-o as to allow of the manufacture of condensed milk. It would <:ost £1000 addition il for lmchinery and would piy. The proposition which embodied Mr Wells' suggestion was tlun put and carried, Mr John Ruuciman only dissenting. A committee consisting of MVssis Hill, Ferguson Rhodes, Smith, Witts, W. M Douglas, Forrest and Butler were appointed to collect the necessary information on the subject Mr Wells said it was probable that a site of 10 acres of domain land on the YiotoMci road, set aoide for a farmers' club show giound, could be leased at a nominal rent for 21 years. This might suit their purpose. Votes of thanks to Capt. Runciman, Mi Ferguson and the chair, concluded the meeting.