SOCIAL GATHERING AT RANGIOTU.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLI, Issue 9811, 12 June 1914, Page 5

SOCIAL GATHERING AT RANGIOTU.

suppliers entertain mr and mrs Mcdonald. Rangiotu was en fete last evening when tho suppliers of Mr Kenneth McDonald's factories at Tiakitahuna. Rangiotu and Bamesse eatertaiu<-d him audi lie factory employees at a wxial gathering in the Rangiotu Hall. The event had born anticipated with pleasure for several weeks past, and its culmination saw a large and representative concourse of settlers and their families from all round the district served by the factories. Unfortunately the weather was unsettled during the afternoon and early evening, and this doubtless kept some from joining in the gathering. The evening was wholly of a social nature, dancing and music items whilingaway tho hours. Country functions aro always noted for theirsociableness.and last night's was no exception, everybody joining in to make tho evening as pleasant as possible. It is now five years since Mr McDonald commenced operations in the district. Then ho had one factory, the first years output throe factories and this year saw an output of 602" tons, which sneaks eloquently of tlo fertility of the di-trict and the progress of development. The system under which Mr McDonald runs his factories has stord a splendid trial, and that he has not lost, one supplier during the five years he has been operating there shows that the farmers, in sporting parlance, "know a good tiling when they see it." The manufacture of cnees* is chiefly carried on, and the suppliers meet and determine the mode of selling the output to the best advantage. It is only necessary to call them together. twice or thrice a year, and the meetings are a'ways unanimous and everything is done for thoir mutual benefit. E\ery potiud of butter fat that can be used nxre to the fo-mer. and in fact the system resembles lothin? more than a mutual benefit society. The higher the price for the output the better the price for the far ners. No better guarantee of the excellence of tho system can be found than the fact th it Mr McDonald holds the record in the M: nawatu for the price paid for butter.fat. The three factories are fitted up so that tho manufacture of casein, butter or cheese can bo carried on as desired. Casein has tried, but cheese is preferred. The object, of holding last night's social was to bring all the suppliers together at one big gathering. A banquet wa=. s* first sugges;ed but it was felt that this aould leave the ladies out of the proceedings, and so it was decided to hold the social. Th* affair is to be an annual one. and will probably be on larger dimensions in future. At any rate the success of the initial effort is a happy augury for the future At an opportune interval during the function Mr W. T. Jewell, chairman of the committee, expressed the gratification of the suppliers at having so large a number present The idea was first to hold a social at fsaine>*o. but it was then decided to hold it at Rangiotu. and it. had proved a very happy i<lea to evt th« wholo of 111«* factory suppliers to join in. Mr Jewell hoped that that evening's pleasant gathering would Vw the first of many more. It was honed in the future to have an officer of tho Department of Agriculture present to address the farmers. Mr Jewell coticluded by once more expressing pleasure at the attendance, though he said it had boon interfered with to a slight extent by the weather Replying, Mr McDo-iald raid that he was satisfied from the sunc< ss of the gathering that when the HK-n wanted ;o make another deal they should stay at home and leave it to the ladies; they would get on capitally. Speaking as the guest of tho | suppliers lie said that ho was certainly | pleased to so many present. He Felts lie was partly responsible for the gathering, but he was pleased that he had come into the district if only for the entertainment. "I am not goim to teil you anything of butter fat." said Mr McDonald, "wo are on the social side of (bo business now. There arc two sides to every tjuestion. and nis i* the one I enjoy." It in:.:!:' lie of interest for th<*ni to know (hat i" v.. J five years since he had commenced op< rations on his own account. The output had jumped fr<.m a value of £J4CO then jo £40.000 this year, lie was sure the |*on',» who had associated them«-!v«-s with him were quite satisfied wjfh his cominganiongs" them. He hoped tha; fading would, continue. Concluding. Mr McDonald thanked the pthering for th.ir ho>pitaliiy in./'ii*er<aining him and Mrs McDonald. During the evening dance musi ■ was supplied by Mr W. Larkins, and musical items by Misses Voas, Green, and AUman, and Messrs Lyall and Crump.