MESSRS. W. COOK AND SONS.

Evening Post, Volume CVII, Issue 143, 18 June 1924, Page 12

MESSRS. W. COOK AND SONS.

. Coopers and Boxmakers, JPalmerSioin North. ''Cook's." That word stands out in bold relief on the tallest smoke stack i!? S^mereton North. Everybody knows I Cook s, and none better than the pioneer i dairy farmers of Manawatu. This is where the cheese crates, butter boxes I ■ and tallow casks required by nearly 70 ! per cent, of the dairy factories and freezing works of the districts around Palmerstqn North are manufactured. Cook's is_ one of the oldest-established industrial enterprises of the town, and most faithfully portrays the progress of the district. In the early days of the settlement Mr. William Cook, the principal of the firm, shared the trials and tribulations of the struggling small farm- i ers whose principal means of existence was milking a few cows and sailing1 their I output of butter to local stores at 4d per lb, and talking it out in goods. With the advent of the separator and the re-' frigerator, and the establishment of creameries and co-operative dairying concerns, things improved however, and Cooks factory to-day reflects the rapid strides and advancement that has been made. As owners of this large cooperage and box : making factory, the firm naturally are extensive users of white pine, and draw their supplies from the Main Trunk region where there exists the finest tract of this class of timber in the Dominion. It would be hard to estimate the enormous store of -white pine stacked up in their yards undergoing the process of drying, and being made ready for manufacturing into the necessary crates and boxes for which the firm are the contractors for many of the largest factories in the country; but some idea of the extent of the firm's operations may be gauged by an inspection of the yardg and factory which are situated on Main street and extend right? out to Broad street, and for many chains along that thoroughfare. Such an institution as "Cook's" is a decided asset to Palmerston North. It gives employment to a huge staff in the busy season of the year, and has helped to make Palmerston North what it is today—a flourishing centre.