CHINESE BENEFACTOR

Hawera Star, Volume LIV, 19 November 1935, Page 12 (Supplement)

CHINESE BENEFACTOR

TRADE IN TARANAKI “WOOL” BUTTER VENTURE SUCCEEDS FIRST FACTORY AT ELTHAM Possessed of a remarkable personality and the native sagacity of his race, it was a little Chinese gentleman, Chew Chong, who established the factory system in Taranaki and provided the struggling settler with his first means of making a cash transaction in creating a market for fungus, or Taranaki “wool” as it was called, found in such prolific quantities in the bush. Chew Chong was no ordinary Chinaman. Though not a mandarin, or -of the educated class, he well merited the high esteem in which he was held by all classes because of his high principles and generous instincts. To the first settlers who faced the wilderness with determination and -hope as their only capital, the little -Chinese buyer of old iron came as a general benefactor. In his wanderings lie recognised the fungus growing on the tawa, pukutea and mahoe trees as something similar to an edible fungus greatly prized in his country as a vegetable. With that keen foresight which always distinguished him, he decided to establish a trade in it with his native land. A trial shipment was made, and the venture at once proved a success. It is difficult exactly to realise what the work of Chew Chong meant -to the pioneer dairymen of Taranaki. When he -commenced to purchase fungus the settlers lived by a system of barter. Fourpence a pound was a high price for the butter they produced. The storekeeper accepted the butter in exchange for stores, milled it and shipped it Home in a salted condition in kegs as ordinary cargo. It was a matter of great difficulty to obtain -sufficient cash to meet the annual rates levied by the local bodies, amounting generally to 5s or 7s 6d. It was not till they were paid spot cash for their fungus that the settlers knew the delightful sound of the clinking, of coin of the realm. VALUABLE FUNGUS EXPORTS The trade in Taranaki “wool” rapidly developed until one year, about 1885, the export of fungus amounted to £72,000, more than the total value of butter shipped from the province. This important means of revenue was a Godsend to many a settler, for the price of butter had fallen to about 3d a lb. at that time, and but for the fungus many a family would -have had ruin staring them in the face. It was in the year 18CS that Chew Chong commenced buying fungus. For four years the -Customs authorities of China kept no account of the amount imported, but when Chew -Chong was in China later ho was informed that from 1872 to 1904 the imports were valued at £375,000. Beneficent as were the services rendered to the Taranaki pioneer by the

establishment of a trade in fungus, which cost nothing to produce and was collected by the children, it was the part played by the Chinese storekeeper in establishing the factory system, of butter manufacture for which he is principally remembered. His main sphere of activity was at Eltham. In erecting a dairy factory Chew Chong took a risky step, for it was a matter of great difficulty to procure a -competent butter-maker in'those days. The refrigerator was unknown, control of temperature, an essential feature in the modern factory being thus impossible; separators were crude affairs, transport was difficult and costly, and the butter had to be shipped abroad as ordinary cargo. However, he was a man of exceptional enterprise, and having been approached by the settlers with whom he was doing business he entered into the work in a bold manner. WATER-WHEEL DRIVE Perhaps the best indication of the up-to-date nature of his enterprise may be gained from the following; description of the factory given by the first Government dairy instructor in 1SS8: “Chew Chong’s factory: This is one of the best factories I have visited. The machinery is good and in firstclass condition, and everything about it is thoroughly clean. The machinery is driven by a water-wheel. There are two Danisli cream separators, each capable of putting through 150 gallons of milk per hour; one box churn capable of churning half a ton of butter at once, and a lever butter-worker. Tho water-wheel is inside the lower part of the building. The butter when churned is taken to a space between the wfiieel and the outside wall to be made up. When the wheel is in motion it -causes a current of -cool air in the place, throwing at the same time a spray of water in the air, which assists to cool it in hot weather, a method in\ T aluable for butter-making. The building of a tunnel to bring the water to the wheel and plant cost over £700.”

It is told by old settlers, as an instance of Chew Chong’s versatility, that the contractors for the tunnel were on the point of throwing up the work, as they could make no progress, when Chew Chong went into the tunnel and showed them how to g;o about it. It was in 18S7 that the factory established a notable period for the industry. Being the year of Queen Victoria’s Jubilee, Chew Chong named his factory “The Jubilee” and registered the word ‘ ‘ Jubilee ’ ’ as. the brand of his butter. It was a success from its initiation, notwithstanding the difficulties which had to be faced.

MILK AT 2D PER GALLON The first year suppliers could only be paid 2d a gallon for the milk, but the following year 3d a gallon was paid. The first shipment of factory butter realised 24s a cwt. more than did the milled butter shipped by Chew Chong at the same time. The cost of marketing was expensive in those days. Roads were bad, and rail freights high. To rail butter to Wellington cost £3 4s per ton. The butter Chew Chong turned out was of high quality for the period, and .he ■ gained the leading awards at the South Seas Exhibition at Dunedin in 1889, including a silver cup presented by Messrs A. and T. Burt. The history of Chew Chong was that of many another proprietary pioneer in the industry. When the wave of cooperative dairying carried all before it he struggled gamely for a time, but finally had* to close' the doors of his factory and three creameries, having failed to persuade the co-operators to take them over, with the result that Ins buildings and plant, which cost £3700, did not realise £4OO. Chew Chong calculated that he lost £7OOO in the dairying business, for during the last five years his factory was in existence he had to pay very high prices to retain suppliers. Though his services have not attracted the attention of the outside world, there is not a man of long experience in Taranaki who does not hold him in high regard and honour him for the great part lie played in the development of the province.