MILK-POWDER AT WAHAROA.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LV, Issue 16925, 10 August 1918, Page 5

MILK-POWDER AT WAHAROA.

PROSPECTS OF THE INDUSTRY. There was a large attendance at the meeting of dairy farmers held at Waharoa on Tuesday evening, when proposals of the New Zealand Co-operative Milk Foods, Ltd., were considered. Mr. Schearer, of Ngarua, was voted to tho chair. Mr. > William Goodfollow placed the soheme before those present in a .similar manner to that already reported in the press. He stated that Waharoa was favoured in preference to Mata Mata owing to the existence of good drainago and railway facilities. However, arrangements would be made to handle tho Mata Mata milk on a' favourable basis to thoseconcerned. > Mr. Goodfellow said the milkpowder business was a very profitable one, and really amounted to skim-milk-powder plus butter prices. From recent information received, apparently the shortage of butter in Europe was very groat, and it was likely that all butter in New Zealand to-day. would be exported at an early date, despite pessimistic reports, Continuing, Mr. Goodfellow said that if milk-powder was good enough for the farmers of Canada, U.S.A. and for Messrs. Joseph Nathan and Co., surely it was good enough for the producers of New Zealand. It was admitted, he said, that we were several years behind the times in this country in regard to the manufacture of milk-powder. Words dr. warning from Wellington were no doubt wise, but he would remind them that a Minister of the Crown had recently stated that very few people in New Zealand knew anything about milk-powder, and, judging ,by the many absurd and' foolish statements that had recently appeared in tho press; apparently the Minister was quite right. Mr. Goodfell6w reiterated the fact that Mr. Masscy had promised free access to the British market. ; Import and export licenses were now necessary almost everywhere, and were more or less a matter of form, especially with foodstuffs. The present price of sKim'-milk-powdcr—soluble in cold water— butter at Is 8d per lb, .would return ,4s per lb for butter-fat to the supplier—that was' to-day's position, but it would be obviously unwise for dairy farmers to reckon on. such a high figure. Prices of milk-powder would not bo controlled in New Zealand, according to Mr. Maseey's promise, but the British Government, possibly acting on advice from interested parties, might regulate prices on a somewliat lower basis. Apparently the right thing to do at Waharoa, said Mr. Goodfellow, was to (ret into the business as quickly as possible and then advise others to keep out. j After questions were satisfactorily answered the meeting closed with votes of thanks, and those present then partook of supper provided in aid of the Red Cross i funds. / Over 130Q cows were signed up after the meeting, and it is expected no difficulty will be experienced in securing a .supply from the required 3000 cows in a few days. , • .