A NORTH ISLAND TALK.

Otago Witness, Issue 3196, 16 June 1915, Page 19

A NORTH ISLAND TALK.

(From Ocp. Own Coere?i>ondent.) PALMERSTON N., Juno 11

Some rather interesting remarks on the dairying outlook were made last week by the managing director of that admirable organisation the Waikato Co-operative Dairy Company (Ltd.), Mr W. Goodtellow. The speech was uttered at the annual dinner of the suppliers, held at Hamilton. The company claims 'to be “absolutely the greatest home-separation company in New Zealand,” and to possess the most modern factory in Australasia. Mr Goodfellow, who appeal’s to be singularly popular with his suppliers, in the course of his speech said that in spite of the exceptional dryness of the season the company’s output increased by 10 per cent. With average weather the increase would have been 20 per cent, hie anticipated difficulty in getting ocean carriage again next season, a question which ho had been discussing with the directors of the Auckland Farmers’ Freezing Company, in which the Waikato Dairy Company held shares. This danger of continued trouble caused him to urge that all the dairy companies in the district should take shares in that. company in order that they might participate in the expenses and profits and management as well as in the cold storage. It would surprise some people to learn that during last year great Britain used 177,000 tons of margarine, which was twice as much as the entire quantity of butter imported from Denmark, the greatest butter-supply-ing country. He did not think margarine would injure dairying provided they maintained the quality. Last season, in order to combat the margarine advertising methods, the Waikato company had numbers of striking placards printed and exhibited in grocers’ shops in England, with results that were very sat’sfactory. Last year’s scheme of paying id per lb extra from September to March for all cream that was delivered twice daily, despite criticism, resulted favourably, exceeding the directors’ most sanguine expectations. The season’s average payment for butter-fat was Is d. Under the special rules of this company it was optional for a supplier after the season to take 20s in shares for every 2001 b of butter-fat he had supplied, and the shareholder’s bonus of id per lb covered the annual call of 4s per share, so that, in five years, the share was paid up without costing him anything. The shares paid 8 per cent, interest, and when he ceased supplying, the company would repurchase his shares at face value. It was expected that the pig department would show a net profit of £3OO or £4OO.

This company’s output four years ago was 900 tons of butter: two years ago, 1100; this year. 12C0. Reference was made to tho good work done by Mr Hames, manager of the company’s co-operative buying agency in Auckland, and the speeches were rounded off with a series of puns playfully hitting at the two principal heads of tho company’s chief rival, the Now Zealand Dairy .Mjsoclation, , a s follows: —“If you harness a Goodfellow and put on tho proper Hames, you inightputa Spragg in his wheel, but you will not hinder his Faces.” SOMETHING DEFINITE.

Waikato graziers and dairymen are now added to the number of those sensible people who are getting something don© to meet the shortage of ships instead of -only talking. At a large joint meeting held at Hamilton last week Mr A. C. Milne (convener) declared the seriousness of the posision would be intensified, next season owing to a largely-increased output of cheese! Farmers should see that the new works 'at Horotiu were' pushed on with speed. Other speakers followed in a similar strain, and the meeting appointed a committee to got information as to the quantity of stock likely to be available for export during the next three and 12 months, and confer with the Auckland Farmers’ Freezing Company as to providing the necessary storage. The committee consisted of Messrs W. G Morgan (Cambridge). J. W. Simpson (Matamita), A. Orr (Morrinsville), Campbell Johnstone (Whatawhata.), F. Quinn (To Awamutu). W. G. Macky (Paterangi). W. G._ Pai’k (Hairini). Kaye (Orakau), N. G. Cribble (Hamilton), R. M. Snmmerville (Te Kuiti). W. Henrv (Orini), W. Goodfellow (Hamilton), E. M'Gro.gor (Rukuhin.), J. 0. Potts'(Bruntwood), A. M'Oardle (Mangero), J. M'Gregor (Gordonton), A. Muir (Takinini), E. Goodwin (Claudejands). Of these Mr E. M'Gregor is chairman and Mr Gribble secretary. The committee is to remain In existence permanently to watch !

the interests of graziers and dairymen on the.lines of similar committees in the South Island.

A tender has been accepted for the erection of the proposed works of the Oroua Freezing Company. Mr J. L. M'Millan, of Auckland, gets the contract at £24,237. A separate tender has been let for the machinery. THE DAIRY OUTLOOK. The Wap Office in London (the National Dairy Association tells us) is taking 600 to 700 tons of cheese per week. This is bound to keep cheese prices up to a high level. It seems likely that normal conditions of life will not be restored when dairy companies will be. discussing the disposal of their next outputs, and even after peace is declared months will elapse before the armies are finally disbanded or materially reduced in numbers. This all makes for a continuance of high prices through the next year for those dairy farmers who have sown big fields of fodder crops. I am wondering whether all the cheese-feeding of the soldiers will make them sick of the sight of it, or give them such a lesson on its food value that for the rest of time they will refuse to live without it, and so create a new permanent demand. I