DAIRYING INDUSTRY

Northland Age, Volume 24, Issue 50, 9 April 1925, Page 7

DAIRYING INDUSTRY

CHIEF FACTOR IN DEVELOPING DISTRICT PROMISING PROSPECTS

The' great dairying industry has been the chief factor in developing this district. With the peacefull settlement of the Maori trouble a new era in the progress of the district began, and to-day the industry has changed the county from a state of low productivity into one of the highest. The fertility of the soil attracted « and held settlers who have “made good”. Early in the history of the industry in this county dairymen realised that if they were to progress on sound lines they ■* must co-operate and establish the secondary units of their calling. Their affects culminated in the establishment of co-operative dairy companies with factories at Ka'taia, Herekino, and Oruru. These factories are now distributing thousands of pounds sterling monthly and these cash advances play an important part in stabilising the business of county towns. Tney are of more value owing to the fact that they principally consist of revenue derived from overseas sales.

With the effort now being 10 made to stabilise the butter and cheese markets, commensurate with the cost of production, a great impetus should be given the industry. The establishment of a cooperative bacon factory in the county is a long-felt want in the dairying industry, for without it dairymen are unable to reap full reward tor their labour which should be derived from the byI products of the dairy. Outside concerns now buy pigs at their own price, and while paying about Jd per lb for pigs we find the cured article retailed in local V shops up to 1/6 per lb. The margin is too 'great, but until local farmers establish their own factory or factories they will continue to raise pigs chiefly for the bene- * fit of the middlemen, Mangonui County is not only a dairying district; the land will grow most root and cereal crops and will do sheep well. Near » Kaitaia there are thousands of - acres of swamp land yet to be opened for dairying and the prospects of those engaged in the industry are very bright. Considering the present values of land in other parts as compared with this district, it is questionable if similar opportunities are offering in any other part of New Zealand. Practical farmers say there are not. THE KAITAIA DAIRY CO. Beginning in a limited way, with but twenty suppliers and a turnover of £641 for 1900, butter 1 then selling at seven pence per " lb, the Kaitaia Dairy Factory Co. - has made"steady progress and in ft 1924 452 tons were manufactured ' realising £BO,OOO at i/7{4 per lb butterfat. Though many initial difficulties were encountered, the finance of the company has been conducted

on sound lines, and the products have been maintained at a high quality standard, with the result that the company holds an esteemed and commanding position among the co-operative factories of the Dominion.

The present manager Mr. L. Mawhinney.and his predecessors have amply demonstrated that by scientific treatment in manufacture, and with the assistance Of farmers in supplying good cream, the local butter could not only win the “blue ribbon” honours in the largest competitions in the Dominion, but was further distinguished by winning the Silver Medal at the Panama Exposition.

The company also conducts a herd testing association which is playing a big part in the building up of better herds.

The first factory manager was Mr. S. M. Bower 190[-1908, Mr. A. '2. Wilson 1908-1913, Mr. W. G. King 1913-1920, Mr. T. R. McCarthy 1920-1923, and Mr. L. Mawhinney 1923 to present time. During Mr. McCarthy’s term of office the Company’s butter won the following prizes : —1920-1921 Palmerston North Winter Show: First for Export butter, Weddel Cup No 2, Gold Medal, First prize butter, made under most favourable conditions. Challenge Cup presented by Factory Managers’ Association, 4th in Weddel Cup No I, First prize for butter made from home separated cream. Waikato Winter Show, second prize for export butter salted. Hawera Winter Show, third prize for export butter. 1921-1922 second prize—Weddel Cup No I. Waikato Winter Show first prize export butter. Waikato Winter Show Challenge Cup, first prize (tied with six other factories), second prize in the Auckland Provincial championship, second for home separated cream. New Plymouth Winter Show, second prize for butter suitable for local trade. Hawera Winter Show first for export butter manufactured under most favourable conditions, second for export butter open to makers in Auckland Province, and fourth in export butter open to makers who have never taken a first or second prize. During Mr. Mawhinney’s short term of office he has secured a first prizeatWhangarei andtheDavidson Cup;first prize at Waikato Winter Show, and the Mill’s Cup ; first prize at the Auckland Spring Show; and third prize at the Auckland Winter Show. Although the Company has always hada high reputation tor the quality of its produce it was during the year 1915-16 under Mr. King’s management that it achieved its great success when it won in succession the Silver Medal at the PanamaExposition,and at the Waikato Winter Show the Gold Medal and championship of the Auckland Province for export

butter, and three first prizes,

The late Mr. Robert Ritch.e.of Fairburn, was the originator of the scheme for the erection of the dairy factories at Kaitaia and Oruru. He collected the necessary data upon which the companies were founded. Like all other movements that were mooted in those days, the late T. W. P. Smith was an active and intelligent worker and it was chiefly owing to his foresight and energy that an organisation was started which has done so much for the settlers. To the late Mr. Ritchie and to the late Mr T. W. P. Smith the farmers owe a deep debt of gratitude. The first directors were Messrs T. W. P. Smith (Chairman) H. Blencowe Matthews, E.S. Masters F. A. Brent and R. V. Masters. Two sites were offered to the directors, one on Wiggins' Hill and the other, the present site at the bridge, donated by Mr. J. H. Bedggood. The building was completed and first milk delivered at the factory on December 26th, 1901, and on Saturday, 28th December the official opening took place, the factory being declared open by Mr. R. M. Houston, M.H.R. Ih 1904 Mr. T. W. P. Smith retired from the directorate owing to ill health. Mr. J. L. Hester was elected chairman and held office until 1905, when Mr. H. B. Matthews succeeded him, in which position he held till 1914, when he retired owing to having disposd of his property to Messrs. Bell Bros., and Mr. Allen Bell succeeded him on the directorate.

At this period Mr W. R. Grigg, who had filled the position of secretary for 12% years, was elected chairman, which position he honourably held uptothe 3rd January, 1925, when the position was filled by Mr. C. «S. Puckey. The outstanding success of the Company during the past ten years has undoubtedly been due to the keen business acumen brought to bear on its affairs by Mr. Grigg. In 1914 the secretaryship was taken over by Mr W. A. N. Campbell, who in turn was succeded by the present secretary, Mr. L. A. Mclntosh. The first secretary of the company was Mr. J. L. Hester, whose term of office extended from August to November, 1901.

The gentlemen, in addition to those previously mentioned in this article who at various times occupied seats on the directorate were Messrs. G. E. Hollis, R. H. Dunn, L. V. Matthews, H. S. Matthews, J. W. Shannon, T. Maugham, D. W. Tracey, E. M. Masters, Chas. G. Smith, H. C. Dunn, A. Snelgar W. Rose, W. C. Kirtlan, F. Holder, C. Nicholls, A. W. Masters J. L. Hester, H. H. Thompson, F. Banks, C. S. Puckey, W. A. Campbell, R. V. Johnson, L. H. Bell, and C. B. Michie.

In the year 1907 the settlers were still tied to the creamery system and in that year a creamery was built in the Victoria Valley. This creamery was destroyed by fire in rgo9, and marked the advent of the more modern system of Home Separation, the final change being made in 1911. Since that year the output has steadily increased until the last year it reached 452 tons butter. This year it is expected the output will exteed 500 tons. This welcome increase compelled the directors to erect a factory capable of handling the ever increasing supply. After much consideration it was decided to erect a new factory on the company’s site opposite the school at Awanui at a cost of over £n,ooo. The contractor, Mr. O. Haigh, of Whangarei, is now busy on the erection. This new factory which has been designed by Wilson & Moodie, the well known Auckland architects, will embrace most features of modern dairy factory construction, The whole of the manufacture room will be open, that is to say it will not be divided off into several rooms and will thus allow of the passage of air and light. From the receiving stage, which will be 74 feet 4 inches by 15 feet, the cream will gravitate to the pasteuriser, being afterwards pumped to the cream vats, eventually reaching the churns by gravitaiion. In one part of the room will be a cool room 29 feet by 18 feet for storing butter and a general storage room of 44 feet by 18 feet. The main room will also contain an office, testing room, etc. The building will be 85 feet by 88 feet over its greatest measurements and will be constructed in reinforced concrete or concrete blocks, with a roof of asbestos tiles. The Company intends to instal plant to allow of an output of 1000 tons, and provisions is made in the plan for the enlarging of the main room tohandle 1500 tons annually. The machinery in the present factory will of course be utilised. In addition to the main building will be an engine and boiler room 86 feet by 45 feet and the residential block comprising a neat * five-roomed bungalow for the gen-

eral manager and a four-roomed cottage for the assistant manager and spacious quarters for general employees. A benzine store and a garage and workshop are also erected. When finished the factory will be the most up-to-date in the Northland. Its erection emphasises the growing importance of the dairying industry. THE HEREKINO DAIRY CO.

Some fifteen years ago the settlers of Herekino started to discuss the question of the formation of a Co-op, Dairy Co. in their district, and in the year 1910 the project took definite shape, organised by Messrs Robert Rowe, Leo Lecoustre, W. R. Keay, Wm. Vickers, C. R. Ford, R. Ford, and J. W. Derrick. The latter afterwards became secretary, and held the position to June, 1910, when the present secretary, Mr. Frank Lee, was appointed. The statutory meeting was held on Sept. 3, 1910, when the following board of directors were appointed: Messrs Robert Rowe (chairman), Leo L coustre, Wm. Vickers, Wm. Hunia, D. K. Dysart, C. R. Ford, R. Ford, A. C. Powell, and W. R. Keay. Mr. Rowe held the office of Chairman to March, 1914, when he was succeded by Mr. Lecoustre, who has filled the position since. In passing it is interesting to note that

Mr. Lecoustre is the only mem he r of the Board who has sat continuously from the commencement. The first manager was Mr. J. Ross, who was succedad by Mr Harry Old in Sept., 1912, and who filled the position until Sept, 1919. From that date onwards the position has been filled by Mr. W. Simpson. The original factory cost £1520 and additions were afterwards made at a cost of £ISOO. The home separation system—that boon to the back block settler — was adopted from the start, and the factory erected on a site procured from Mr. C. Smith, opened for the reception of cream in November, 1910. In that year it produced the modest amount of 23 tons of butter, for which the suppliers received 8.08 per lb for butterfat. In the succeeding years the following were the outputs and prices:— 1911 12 32 tons (to.old), 19 213 31 tons (974 d), 1913 14 46 ! >ns (iO.IOtl), 1914-15 40 tons (II.40.:’), 1915-16 59 tons (13.80 c!), 1916-17 70 tons (i4-50d), 1917 18 6n tons (15.00 d), 1918-19 42 tons (l8.28d), 1919-20 57 tons (i8.ood), 1920-21 68 tons (29.7011), 1921-22 84 tons (13-55 H), 1922-23 90 tons (i6.08d), 1923-24 90 tons (i7.20d.) In 1910 the cost of firewood was 19/- per cord, and the cost of carting butter to Awanui 24/6 per ton. In 1922 these charges had gone up to 52/6 and 67/6respectively. The present directors of the Company are Messrs Leo Lecoustre (Chairman), Andrew McMath, R. H. Bowman, A. C. Powell, I. R. Reid, A. P. Duff, and E. Bourke. Since 1919 the Company hasadvanced money to purchase dairy cows, which policy has been of very great assistance to many struggling settlers. Although the-Company is still a small one it has rendered splendid service to a district which possesses some of the finest land in the Northland, but whose progress has been retarded for years by the neglect of successive Governments and local bodies to provide good roads. ORURU-FAIRBURN DAIRY COMPANY.

Since 1901,- when the OruruFairburn Dairy Factory Co. was formed, the growth of the dairying industry in the eastern districts of the county has been steady and solid. The Oruru-Fairburn districts, as well as Victoria Valley and other areas, are, above all, a dairying country, and" more is being produced each year as a result of closer attention to pastures and crops. The Oruru-Fairburn Dairy Co., established in 1901 with a capital of £2OOO in 2000 £1 shares, had as its provisional directors Messrs George Wilkinson, Arthur R. Garton, J, Albert Maria, Carl Christens, n, John McKay, George Thomas and Ambrose Stevens. Mr. Wilkinson was the first chairman, a position he capably filled from 1901 to 1916. Othe chairmen since the inception of the company were: —William Wilkinson (1916-19), Ambrose Stevens (1919-23), and J. W. Hoskin 1923 till present date. The secretaries to 1915 were Alfred E. Welsh, Arthur D. Lambly, and Wm. E McKay. Since 1915 Mr. Wm. A. Wilton has filled this important office. The managers to 1919 were Messrs K dman, Rowe, A. R. Valder (1909-10), R. Harris (191016), M. H. Clark (1916-19), and E. Gilbert from that date till the present. The Fairburn creamery manager was Mr. Eaves. Home separation was adopted in 1910, Complete figures of the com-

pany’s operations since commencing are not available at time of writing, but the following shows the output for some year* since 1919: 1917-18 109 ton* butter 1920- 125 „ „ 1921- 174 „ „ 1923-24 209 „ „ Present number of suppliers: 144. Needless to say the Oruru factory continues to manufacture a high-grade article, and % with a continuation of the judicious and capable management which characterised its earlier days, the company must make greater headway. Farmers in the district are devoting themselves to securing the highest possible increase within their means. The history of these three fine co-operative concerns indicates the promising prospects of those engaging in the industry in the future. Considering local land values it is very questionable if similar opportunities are offering in any otherpart of the Dominion. The large area of swamp country near Kailaia at present being drained by the Lands Department will result in a tremendous increase in production, as drained swamp lands are usually of high quality and productiveness.