CO-OPERATIVE DAIRYING.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 11691, 28 June 1901, Page 7

CO-OPERATIVE DAIRYING.

PROPOSED FACTORY AT CAMBRIDGE. [FfiOU OUR OWN- COF.TSSsr9XDF.XT.] A MEETING of suppliers interested in the establishment of a co-operative dairy factory in the Cambridge district was held on Wednesday afternoon, the following suppliers being present: — Messrs. J. Taylor, M. Butler, J. All- ! will. X. Banks, Stone, J. 6. Ward, C. ; Crouch, M. J. Ashwiu, W. H. Hall, G. Watt, ! jim., Boer. Russell, Brindle, O. Lake, West, ! C. Rose, Lund, O'Koefe, W. J. Andrews, i Goodwin, McCormick, and one or two others. i Mr. James Taylor was voted to the chair. [ He briefly explained the object cf the meeting. Mr. Butler said the position was that a number of gentlemen had formed themselves into a committee to collect information on the subject. He read the last balance-sheet of the Pihama (Taranaki) Co-operative Dairy Company showing a satisfactory condition of affairs, and also read a letter from the company's secretary. The writer stated it was a wonder to him that the Waikato dairymen had not taken up the matter of co-operation on a general basis long before now, considering that the district might be looked upon as the birthplace of the factory system in the colony. Ho went on to say that cooperation was started in Taranaki 15 or 16 years aero, but at that time there was no assured output as at present, and from want of knowledge, both commercial and practical, the co-operative factories, almost without exception, came to grief. But during the last few years co-operation had proved its benefits so well that it had killed all opposition, and he thought in the course of two or three years mere proprietary concerns would be things of tho past. The Pihama factory started in November, 1897, with nine suppliers or shareholders, representing 398 cows, and at August 31, 1893 (end of financial year), had put through 2,123,89?.1b milk, from which 89,1501b of butter was made; 46,5361b of this was consigned to London, and the re- | mainder sold in the colony or Australia, with I the result that shareholders got 3.27 d per j gallon of 111b for their milk. The second \ year they put through 3,676,7931b of milk, which gave them 3.265 pence per gallon of milk. The third year they put through 5.562.9391b of milk, which gave 3 3-5 d per gallon, or 8.61 d per lb for butter-fat, carrying £27 17s lOd forward, after wiping off £107 for depreciation. The building, plant, and machinery cost £1870 6s 7d. As regards finance, each shareholder took up one share of £1 for each cow. There were no cash j payments on account of shares. They were j paid up by deducting Is out of every 60 gallons of milk supplied. The bank advanced the whole of the money required to build and equip, taking as security: (1) Lien over real property; (2) chattel security over plant, etc.; (3) joint and several bond from all the suppliers. In about two years and a-ha!f the shares became fully paid-up. Mr. Stone, who has recently arrived from the Taranaki district, was asked by the chairman to address the meeting. Ho said while j in the Taranaki district he had been supply- j ing a co-operative dairy factory for five years, j and it Was a great pleasure to give his ex- j perience, as it had been a pleasant one. It was owing to some trouble with a pro- , prietary factory that a co-operative factory j was started in his district, the cost of construction being about £1300. The first year they cleared 7d per lb for butter-fat, after paving heavy expenses: last financial year they cleared 8?d for 11 months and 9d for the remaining month. This year 9d was assured, which meant an increase on that again: and the factory was practically paid for. Last year only £11 was paid in interest, i and this year it was expected that not more I than £2 to £3 would bo paid. At one time | there was an accumulated fund of over £800, the larger portion of which was paid out by way of a bonus of Id. At its inception the factory put through 1000 gallons, but this had now been increased to 6900 gallons. In answer to Mr. Allwill, Sir, Stone said the factory was started five years ago, and. tho bigger the supply the sooner the cost. of site, building, and equipment were paid oft. Mr. Lund read some press extracts having reference to the co-operative dairy factories in the Wairarapa district, each case quoted being favourable indeed. Mr. O'Keefe read a letter, which had been addressed by Mr. Wesley Spragg (manager of the New Zealand Dairy Association) to the Nethorton milk-suppliers, in which the ; writer stated, in answer to a question asking | if Lis association was prepared to sell its j Netherton creamery, that it was net for sale, j and would be run us usual next season. Mr. j Spragg proceeded in his letter to say that it, was at the earnest solicitation of a number oi settlers in that district that his as- | sociation had erected (lie creamery, and ho j was therefore justified in concluding that those among them who signed the original petition would approve of his refusal to part with the Netherton creamery. .Mr. Stone said the co-operative butter fac- i for}' in Taranaki had extended its opera- ; tions by purchasing the 2>loturoa Freezing j Works.

Mr. Allwill said for very many years the suppliers in the Cambridge district had been receiving less than in many districts they were aware of. A lot of milk was supplied locally, and ho thought they wore entitled to as much as was paid in Taranaki. The following suppliers then guaranteed the number of cows set opposite their names:— Allwill 60. Banks 100, Crouch 50. MoFarlane 30, Andrews 50, Ward 20, O'h'e.-f., 20, Hal) 20, Rose 50, Brindlo 15, West 15. Beer 20, Wattam 12, Taylor 75, Davys 20, Russell 10. The foregoing numbers and those promised by suppliers not present at the mooting totalled 724 cows. Mr. Butler said he believed they could start with from 900 to 1000 cows. The question of whether shares should bo allotted to none but suppliers was raised, but no decision was arrived at. Mr. Allwill said with the guarantees made. and the good security thoy could offer, the only thing remaining was to appoint a committee to work up matters in the best possible way. The following gentlemen were then appointed provisional directors:--Messrs. Taylor, Banks, Allwill, Ward, Butlei, Kelly, and Ashwin. A resolution was passed authorising the directors to take the necessary steps to got things undor way, and report to a future meeting. Tho question of site was left to the directors to report on. Votes of thanks were passed to Mr. Stone and the chairman, and the meeting terminated.