Untitled

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXI, Issue 9494, 25 April 1894, Page 5

Mr. W. Spragg, representing the New Zealand Dairying Association, addressed a, settlers' meeting at the Waipu Library Hall on the night of the 14bh inst., in accordance with arrangement made by the Waipu Pastoral ana Agricultural Association. An impression had got abroad that the New Zealand Dairying Association were definitely determined to enter into the butter factory business in several of the contiguous districts, and were willing to include this district among them. Mr. Spragg, the representative of the association, expressed his regreb at not being able at present to give any distinct assurance that his firm would take up the business in the Northern districts immediately, as the prospects of the butter trade were not very bright on account of failing markets, but he had visited several places between here and Whangarei, gathering information that would be valuable in the future should circumstances warrant the firm extending their operations in the North. He strongly advised the people of this district to get a dairy factory established as soon as possible, either on as operative lines or by getting some wellestablished firm to enter on the business, co-experience had proved that the farmer will get a better price all round for milk produced than if he himself converted the milk into butter. His firm had been paying 3d per gallon of lOJlb for milk of 10 per cent, standard, and as most farmers can only make about lib butter from three gallons of milk, suppliers of 10 per cents, milk have been receiving actually at the rate of 9d per lb for butter without the trouble of making it, or the expense and uncertainty of marketing. His judgment on the price of milk was that it would not increase, but would probably gradually recede, but if the settlers decide to go in for milk-supplying, he would advise them to make a thorough combination, and make every effort to get the largest possible milk supply, because there was no greater expanse at a factory in treating the supply from 1000 cows than there would be in treating the milk of 400 cows; and he thought the farmers should receive the benefit of the economy in expenses. He believed one farthing per gallon extra could be paid for the larger quantity than for the smaller one by this economy of expense. Hie firm had during the past season paid in hard cash to milk suppliers in an area of country nob larger than the districts he visited between this and Whangarei the sum of £24,000, so-that some idea could from this be gained of the magnitude and importance of the business, as well as the advantage bo the farmer in receiving regular payments in cash, and thus be free to furchase his stores in the cheapest market, n answer to a question, Mr. Spragg stated ; that his firm always stipulated for a guarantee of 400 cows.—[Own Correspondent.]