Ballance Butter Factory.

Pahiatua Herald, Volume II, Issue 188, 13 August 1894, Page 3

Ballance Butter Factory.

A Meeting of Milk Suppliers.

Messrs Cook and Coy’s. Offer Deelined.

On Saturday evening a meeting was held at Ballaaoe convened bj Mr Hoisted, factory manager (or the late firm of Dottridge and Co, to explain the condition* under which the new firm of Cook and Co were prepared to deal with milk supplier*. Mr Eddie wa* voted to the chair, and taid he hardly knew what the meeting was convened for. The/ had all taken it for granted that the conditions for tho incoming year were settled and that when sattlers gava the KHlb per gallon (a Mb concession! they weee doing all that was asked of them, bul no doubt Mr Hoisted would explain the position. Mr Hoisted in coming forward said that ■iace last meeting his company had changed hands. He was still manager for the new firm. »l which Mr Cook, accountant, of Wellington, wa* tho head, and he (Mr Hoisted), was there to submit thenew ftrin'soffer to the settlers. Hehad with him a rougli draft of an agreement whiah he would read, and settlers could then judge for them*#lve«. (The agreement wa* her# read, the chief alterations from the old one being “ That the suppliers would have to give lllb* to the gallon ” of a 101 b te*t, in other words 27 ) lb* of milk, Uolbs making one pound of butter ; also that the milk would have to be cooled as soon as drawn from the cows. If settlers would noi agree to theso terms he wae prepared to sell them the factory either as a going coucern, or else buildings and land without machinery and fixing*. He wanted an answer at once if possible, a* hi* Company wished to make arrangements to meet all engagements). Mr Haigh : If we sign that agreement what asaurance have we that the Company won I change hands and thenew company want a fre*h agreement next year ? (applause). Mr Tail said it was now evident that they (the suppliers), had been misled. When Mr Hoisted was present last, the telegram stating the business had changed hands was evidently true. Mr MoCardle eaid the new agreement wa* evidently a very one sided affair, the settlers having nothing whatever as a bond of good faith. The same thing might happen again and there was no guarantee that it would not From his knowledge of Messrs Cook and Co, he did not think thev were the people to carry on business at V loss. At the very outset he considered the firm had made a grave business blunder. The true position for the esntre factory, msttad of being at Fahitua, should have been at Scarborough, where the Pahiatua Railway Station would be. In establishing this factory it was assumed that it was not a thing (or a day blit for vears to conaw. and in less than two tsars tile Itailway would be in their midst. To come to the practical part it rnuant this, that under the new agreement just read they were handicapped just one cow in eleven as compared with ihe old state of things. He felt surs that this was asking too much. The old agreement war made for five years and had three to run. He would suggest that settlers get the very best outside legal advice procurable. Either the agreement was good and they could come on Dottridge and Co., or else it was no good, and they would have to make fresh arrangements. Until they had the matter of the agreement cleared up their hands were tied and they could not treat with a new firm or yet do anything. He moved that a committee be formed and that suppliers pledge themselves to support the committee; that the committee be empower*! to procure legal advice re agreement, and also meet Mr Cook in Pahiatua to see what could be done and talk the matter over ; the com mittee t*> consist of Messrs Marriot, MoCardle, Eaton. Eddie, Croad, Tail, and Robinso*.

Here a lot of desultory argument took piece. Finally the committee as suggested was authorised to act. It was, however, clearly understood that nothing be done with Mr Took's firm, the price of buildings being considered far too high, vi/., £SOO for buildings without plant, £IOOO or thereabouts with all machinery and tittiug*. It was agreed that tho committee nicer and report to a general meeting to hr called later. The chairman, in closing the meeting, said the;, felt that Mr Hoisted * position was a peculiar one. He was tho servant of a firm and as a faithful servant he had to do his best for his employers. He then declared the meeting closed. A vote of thanks to Mr Hoisted was carried by acclamation. The usual compliment was paid to the chair. The meeting was strongly represented and all th»* suppliers were unanimous in the resolution arrived at.