MANAIA DAIRY FACTORY.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume x, Issue 1958, 18 June 1888, Page 2

MANAIA DAIRY FACTORY.

At the meeting held on Saturday, to consider the position of the Dairy Factory at Manaia, Mr. Torke was voted to the chair, owing to the absence, through sickness, of Mr. Newing, the Chairman of Directors.

There was a large attendance of milksuppliers and of shareholders.

The following letter was read from Mr. F. McGuire : —

" Egmont Villa, Hawera, June 16, 1888. — To the Chairman, Manaia Dairy Company. Sir, — I am in receipt of a post card from the secretary of the above company, notifying me of an extraordinary general meeting of the shareholders o"f the company, to be held at Manaia this evening, for the purpose of considering whether it should be wound up or not. As I am deeply interested in the progress of the district, and have always considered the dairy company to be a great factor in that prosperity — I must say I have been disappointed at the proposal to wind it up. Industries of this nature arising out of the land will be found to be tbe back-bone of this country at all times ; and must be looked upon by the bolder of the soil as one of their best friends ; one which, if properly conducted, will enable them to tide over their difficulties. I am aware that farm produce generally, has been at a very low price for a long time, and tbat the times have been anxious for the farmers ; but amongst all the depression one thing has stood out clearly — namely, that the price of factory productions during these dispiriting times Jtaas been on the increase. This symptom is the more hopeful as the producing power of these factories has likewise been increasing It must be admitted, that before the establishment of Dairy Factories, cows were in many cases scarcely worth the milking unless a market existed close at hand. Under the factory system considerable sums have been paid to the farmers, who otherwise had no sale for their milk, and a fruitful source of income has thus arisen for many struggling settlers. I think it must be admitted that the Manaia Dairy Company in particular has been the means of doing great good in this district. That it has been an indirect benefit to the district generally there is very little doubt, and that it has been a direct benefit to the milk suppliers is beyond question. I think therefore to wind up the concern would be a thousand pities. We should like prudent men work loyally together and in some way place the company on a proper footing, to continue to do good. Very few places in New Zealand are so well adapted for dairy factories as this provincial district. Dairy factories are in a healthy condition at Te Puke, "Woodville, Greytown, Te Awamutu, Tauranga, and many other places ; none of which are more favorable by nature than Manaia. The weakness of our local companies appears to me to have hitherto lain in the fact that in some cases dividends have been declared instead of carrying the money to the reserve fund to provide for temporary reverses, and in other cases prices altogether unjustified by the circumstances have been paid to settlers, with the result that in their eagerness to get all the benefits at once from the companies, tbe "goose that lays the golden eggs" has been killed, with the usual consequences. It would be difficult in a letter to say all I could wish. In conclusion, I would urge that the shareholders should hesitate before winding up the concern ; which, once closed, will not be so easy to revive. I regret that other engagements prevent me from attending this meeting. — I have the honor to he, sir, your obedient servant, F. McGuire."

A resolution was finally passed accepting a proposal made by the directors to the effect tbat tbe milk suppliers to whom money for milk was due should sign an undertaking not to press within six months from date for payment in full of the amount entered on the books as due. Unless this agreement were satisfactorily signed the directors would be compelled to go into liquidation. Sixteen milksuppliers were present and all signed, leaving only five to sign ; a full report is held over.