The Daily Telegraph. MONDAY, DECEMBER 10, 1900. DAIRY FACTORIES.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 9939, 10 December 1900, Page 4

The Daily Telegraph. MONDAY, DECEMBER 10, 1900. DAIRY FACTORIES.

The milk suppliers interested in the Heretaunga Dairy Factory have set a good example to the farmers of the Taradale and Meanee districts. These had a fair opportunity some time ago to establish a dairy factory, gentlemen coming forward and proffering financial assistance of the most generous kind without any hope of reward beyond that of aiding the suppliers of milk to establish the undertaking. Mr Douglas McLean in particular displayed noticeable liberality. In Mr Stock's proposal the farmers of the district involved have another favorable opportunity, and it is pleasing to see that at present there are signs of the successful establishment of a factory for Taradale and Meanee. Turning to the Heretaunga Factory, we shall not be assuming too much we imagine if we regard Mr Fitzßoy as a proud man. He took a deep interest in the undertaking, and would have been grieved had it fallen from its level as a co-operative business. That it should have been decided to continue it on that basis, and that this is possible throu -h the suppliers agreeing to put more capital into the venture, must be satisfactory to him in the highest degree. In his letter on the subject published in our columns on Friday last Mr Fitzßoy argued sensibly and strenuously in favor of his views. He set down what he considered the minimum sum which should be contributed by the suppliers at four hundred pounds, leaving those who are already large shareholders to take up an additional three hundred pounds' worth of scrip. At Saturday night's meeting he had the satisfaction of knowing that his contentions had been favorably received by those to whom they were addressed, and that the directors had in consequence received applications from suppliers for shares representing four hundred and fifty pounds. We regard this as an augury of the continued success of the dairy industry is the Hastings district. Some profess to see iv the fact that there are two factories there a sign of weakness. We do not take that view. Hastings and the surrounding districts, as they develop, will support not only two, but twice two factories, or more. In the meanwhile the existence of two will serve to protect suppliers by competition which, while not of that stupid kind which spells disaster, will induce a healthy rivalry.