WAIKIEKIE DAIRY COMPANY.

Northern Advocate, 19 August 1919, Page 1

WAIKIEKIE DAIRY COMPANY.

A special meeting to decide the future working of the dairy factory was held in Waikiekie last Tuesday afternoon, with Mr H. Berridge in the chair. There were 22 suppliers present. The chairman in explaining" the object of the meeting - said it had been called for the purpose of deciding whether the factory should run next season), or be closed down definitely. "You have had an offer for your cream from the Wairoa factory," he said, "also the Whang-arei factory. It is now for you to decide which to do. , ' Mr Jones Kountree moved that the Waikiekie factory close down art once. There was no need fox , him to say anything on the matter, as they li'ad already heard his side of the position. Mr C. Steadman, in seconding , the motion, also said they had heard ;his views for wanting the factory closed, and hoped everybody would express their views on the matter. Mr W. 'Bountree thought they had "■missed the ''bus.' They should start on new lines, and bulld'an up-to-date factory <at Waiotira. The country was able to produce a lot of butter fat. He went on to explain that it would not be in their interests to supply Wairoa and that they should look before leaping. Mr H. Mason said it was a great pity to let the factory go. He had spoken to a lot of outsiders, and all had advised sticking- to the factory even If they got a little less for their butter-fat.'lt seemed a foolish, thing to send cream out of the district when they could have a factory of their own. If they closed the factory they would lose £2 an. acre on. their land. Mr Jones Itountree contended that the factory had served its day, and the directors were not justified in trying , to keep it going. Mr W. Rountree pointed out that there were three companies after the cream; 'therefore it should be worth something. C. Steadman held that the fact of three companies being , after the cream showed that they possessed jnore business ability than the Waikiekie directors. E. Babe contended with regards to building , at Waiotira that the time had now passed. A little while ago it might have been possible but not now. He urged on all the suppliers that whatever was decided on they should stick together. -Alex. Stephen also urged all to stick together. They held a. very enviable position, and if they could hang on for another twelve months they ought to. be able to dictate terms, as they were rigiht on the line. >W. Rountree contended that if the factory had been at W a i°ti ra t^ e y could then have made satisfactory 'arrangements re amalgamation. Jones Rountree asked the chairman if he could give any idea as to what this company would pay for butterfat next season, if they kept open. The chairman in reply said he thought they could pay Is 4d, and wipe off about £200. Jones Rountree wanted to know if being offered Is 7£d from the Wairoa, were they justified in accepting . Is 4d. The chairman thought Wairoa would not pay Is 7d. The long distance carting and extra cans, would reduce that figure. A. 'B. Mason contended that the Is 7d Hva's like a bird in the »4r when they had not got a 'gun. The chairman's opinion was that it was not in their interests to close the factory, as it was very convenient to have one in their midst, especially when it was run all the year round. W. Rountree again urged that they should entertain the idea of shifting the factory to iWai'otira. C. Steadiman pointed out that Mr Rjountree pniy mentioned shiftingdown to, Wiaicrtii'a.." He had no plat* of action. 'Mr Cubitt in urging the closing of the factory, went on to explain about the mortality amongst dairy stock, which would Tindoubtedly affect the future supply of the factory; also, that the ordinary supply needed to keep the factory going would not be forthcoming, through lack of interest, in the dairying. He quoted i he' amalgamation of tJje Waukato and' New Zealand Dairy Associations which was carried by a large majority in the face of great opposition. The Farmers' Tl-ading Company was also an example showing how it was absolutely necessary to unite in one large body and demand the price their produce deserved. He did not wish, those present to tnke his view of the matter, bxxt when bxxsiness men, whose ability was undisputed, strongly advocated centralising factories, surely it was time to close their small con-cei-n, when it could not compete with' other large factories. The farmer wanted every penny he could get for his butter-fat. The chairman did not agree with what had been said about' business men advocating centralising. He had spoken to business men, and quoted Mr Thomson, bank manager, who advocated sticking to the factory, and algo stated that s'q-me of th.c tiairymen in the Waikato were rebuilding their factories. Mr Cubitt contended that he did not go two straws on what Mr Thomson said as their company banked in his bank, and, fxxrther, he had not the experience. He 'asked that those of the ijjrectore who had not alreudy expressed their views on the propositioxx to do so. A. Babe, one of the director, said he was not in favoxxr of taking the cream out of the district, but thought the factory should be moved to Waiotira. John Stephen, the other director, substantiated what Mr Babe had sadd. X. Itountree wanted to, know why the directors had not moved in the matter of shifting the factory to Waiotira. befpre. 'He was iocliiled ib blame them for not moving l in the matter earlier. The chairman contended the time was not ripe for that movement. If the suppliers were not satisfied, why did they not replace the directors at the annual meeting. After fxxrther discussion it was decided to hear the delegates from Whangarei and Maungaturoto companies.

Mr Wakelin. Whangarei Dairy Co., said that several people from Waikiekie had approached them re taking their cream. He understood that if Whangarei did not make a bid for the cream somebody else.vvould. Last year they did not have a successfxxl season owing to the epidemic, and dry weather. His factory was prepared to send a cart to Waikiekie to collect cream, froxu a centre, and said it woxxld go to Whangarei on the sarme terms as the other suppliers. Waikiekie would also have a chance of placing a representative on the directorate. He and the manager would answer any qxxestions put, to them.

Jones Rountree asked- what he thought they would bo able to pay for butter-fat next season, and Mr Wakelin thoxxght thej'''cpuJd manage to pay is 6d free of all charge.

.'. number of minor questions were asked and answered satisfactorily and oxi the motion of F. Cubitt and A. Addison a hearty vote of\ thanks was passed to Messrs Wakelin and [Millington for attending and making the 'offer,

The Maung-aturoto delegates were then introduced by the chairman. Mr Evans explained tlia-t the terms were practically the same as the'-previous delegates. They were quite" prepared to answer any questions,

Mr Pasley explained that the Mlaungatixroto - factory was free of debt. Instead of paying the suppliers a bonus this last season, they had paid off the remaining overdraft, The supply had fallen off and they were anxious to increase it.

H. Mason: What price would be paid this season? Mr Pasley replied about Is 6d.

After several questions had been answered satisfactorily the chairman moved a hearty vote of thanks to the delegates.

The delegates then withdrew, and the motion that the company close the factory was then put to the meeting by secret ballot and carried, by a majority of nine.

■Mr Cubitt then moved that the Waikiekie suppliers send their cream to Whangarei. This was seconded by Mr Jones Roxxntree, -A- long discussion then followed and finally the meeting was adjourned to allow the delegate fi-oxn Wairoa to attend and make a final offer.