DISTRICT NEWS

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 4, Issue 58, 19 July 1915, Page 3

DISTRICT NEWS

AKA AKA.

Mi and Mr ti. Conroy, who were recently married and are going to reside in this district, entertained their friends at a pleasant dance in the Aka Aka Hall on Wednesday evening last, 20 couples attendi g. Numerous speeches were mad", Mr K. Hudson responding on behalf of Mr and Mrs Conroy. Appropriate music was supplied by Mr J. Appleby and another, and Mr "Tini" Conroy conducted the proceedings in a capable manner. An enjoyable supper was provided. Aftrr vfry cartful coneideat'on it has been decided by the milk suppliers to establish a cheese factory in our midst. A very suitable site has been secured, the material fir the factory is 11 be ordered at once, and the necessary buildings will eh>irtly bi in p-ocess of construction. 'i ha establishment of u cheese factory here will inevitabl; seriously affect, if not completely close, our local creamery, which is undoubtedly one of the best managed in the Dominion, and for several seasons has had one of the largest outputs. What must be regarded as a very msan theft waa perpetrated in Aka Aka the other day. A coil of barbed wir j , belonging ti Mf Mat Enwrwht was left beside a fence which was being repaired. Some wet weather came, during which the repairs were suspended. On Mr Enright's return the wi*p had disappeared. It is safe to conclude

that the person who annexed the wire is not a resident of Aka Aka, as ro one here would be guilty of such contemptible conduct. An interesting expeiiment in cnniiectioi with the agricultural classes at the local school has just been concluded. Some time ago differmt plots were sown with mangold and field carrot seeds the crop from which has just been disposed of. All plots were the tame size and received precisely the similnr treatment as far as cultivation was concerned. No. 1 plot received a mixture of bonedust and superphosphate (in equal quantity) at the rate of 3 cwt per acre; No. 2 plot received no manure for purpose of comparison; No 3. received at the rate of 3 cwt of basic slag per acre; No. 4, rate of 2 cwt of basic sl>g and one dressing of nitraH of soda at the rate of 1 cwt per acre. The yield of manoglds on the above plots were No. 1, sblbs; No. 2, 201bs; No. 3. 821bs; No. 4, 641b?. On similar plots with above treatment the yield) of carrot* were 26, 32, 38 and 36 lbs respectively. Not only were the yields on the plots which received besic slag greater than on any others but the quality of the products of those plots was vastly superior to the othe's. The result of these experiments taken in connection with those of last year, particulars of which appeared in these columns some time ago, very clearly demonstrated the great value of basic slag on our soil.. Arbor Day was celebrated at the ■chonl on the 14th inst. Frrm about 9 a.m. until midday the gtounds presented a scene of unusual activity. A number of beautiful •brubs and trees were planted, the value of which in a very few years will be' difficult to over-estimate. In accordance with supgestioas nude a special tree was planted by the children to commemorate the landing of out troops at the Dardanelles; others planted were in honour of-FiSld Marshalls Kitchener and French.

Quite a number ot our residents have recently bean married. during the past week cr bo are Mr G. Conroy and Miss McNamara, and Mr 0. H nry ar.d Miss Ecklev, of Auckland That beg and useful lives of much happiness and prosperity may be theirs, is the wish of all who know them. BUTTER OR CHEESE. THE DAIKY ASSOCIATION'S POSITION. The largest meeting of diitvmen ever held at Aka Aka met at the Public Hall at 8 p.m. on Friday evening last. Messrs Pacey, Motion, and Barnball. directors ct the New Zealand Dairy Association, Ltd., were present. Mr Barriball was voted to the chair, and Lrietty introduced Mr Pacey, managing director of the Association, and called upon bim to address the meeting.

On rising, Mr facey expressed his gratification at meeting such ? large company. He said he had hoped to be able to make a definite announcement of the results for the past season, but unfortunately the balance was not quite complete when he left town. It, however, was certain that the payments for the season would be larger than was mentioned on tbe occasion of his former visit at Aka Aka some'weeks previously, and with quantity bonus and prciits would likely be approximately 1s 2d per lb average for the season at large creameries and in all collecting districts. In some cases, where tbe dominant supply had been at tbe eud of the season when prices were highest, the average waa much higher, running up to 15.4 d per lb butter-fat. Mr Pacey Baid that owing to the unusual variation in monthly payments for butter-fat, and the irregularity of supply owing to the drought, the comparison of averages this season was confusing, and much misunderstanding had already been caused by the discussions which had taken place. Finally, however, it had been demonstrated that the Association's payments for the season were, under ur.iform conditions, better than had been offered by any rival interests in the district. Mr Pacey referred lu tha question raised in the "Pukekohe and Waiuku Times" by Mr Frank Lowry, of Pokeno Valley, that all dairv companies, especially cooperative companies, should be rc quired by law to publish a statement el' tbeir over-run. He said

that almost all co-operative companies did this annually, and he quite approved of the action which was be.in« taken in some districts to secure the compulsory publication of the over-run information. The speaker then outlined the negotiations with the Aka Aka district rc installation of a cheese plant, and showed that fifteen months Btjo, before a start was made with the erection of the butter factory at Waiukn, and while a cheese organisation could have been provided quite as easily ai such factory, the directors bad gallod a meeting at Waiuku,

which was largely attended by Aka Aka ruppliers, and bad, with the utmist impartiality, stat'd the case for both butter and cheese. The decision, however, was practically unanimous in favour of butter, which decision was confirmed at a later meeting at ,Waiuku about tour months since, at which there were rnly two dissentient?. Later, he had visited Aka Aka at the request of the suppliers there and had, on behalf of ttn Association, offered ti install a cheese plant un far easier terms than could be submitted by any other interest. The Dairy Associa-

tion's scheme included the cost of a plant capable of dealing with the milk tf over 2000 cowp, and to compare the cost of such, as had been dine, with the cu=t of Mr Giodfellotf'a outfit for dealinz with the milk cf 1000 cows tr less whs foolishness The Associsti n's poposition was consilered at a further meeting held about two months ay \ when it was tound that the district was so seriously divided- cn the cju'sti n of butter and chaese that he (the speaker) had pointed out that the consequences of disunion stouli far outveigh any other consideration, and hud tug ested that, is a first thing, they shmld all agree ti abuie by the will of the majority, to be expressed according to the number of cows beirg milked, then take a vote whather the future policy should be butter or cheese Such a vote had, to hia surpris', resulted in a decision for butter, and the spokesman for the cheese interest hsd raid that the vote fixed the policy for butter for next season. Notwithstanding this, about a dozsn Aka Aka suppliers, including several who were present at the former meeting, and who were

party to the decision thereat, and who represented about 800 cows, had joined in with Mr Coodfellow in another cheese movem-nt, which wa9 described as a co-operative one, but which did not offer many of ths important advantages which had been included in the Dairy Association's scheme. Mr Pacey said he was not surprised that rivals were trying to divide co-operative interests in a district, but was surpri«ed that any co-operators should b3 so disloyal to their neighbours who were associated with them, as to be party to such division, especially after a definite understanding had been arrived at, as in the case of Aka Aks». Ho submitted that, in consideration of their persona' honour in connection with the former engagement, and in the interests of the district, they should withdraw from the present negotic-, . tions and ask for a re-considerations of the matter by the whole of the Aka Aka suppliers. In that event,

there was a probability of maintaining the unity of the district under a Dairy Association cheese factory. Mr Muir, wh.o had acted as spokesman at the former meeting for fthose who desired chees?, admitted that the Dairy Association had submitted a bona fide chee9e proposal, that the engagement to abide by the v»ill of the majority is outlined by Mr Pacey had been unanimously agreed to by the meetinu, acd that they bad themselves to blame for tha present position, and not Mr Pacey. Notwithstanding this, however, some of the leaders of the cheese movement rotifisd their intention of proceeding with the new proposal. "Mr. Pacey announced that the Dairv Association would certainly not surrender any interest to a rival ranvement wfich was introduced under such conditions, ard would stand by its loyal suppliers at Aka Aka in fighting the new movement, and he had not any doubt that the Association's policy wculd win out successfully in Aka Aka, as it had

dune in other districts. The supply at Aka Aka would still be considerable. and would, in its own right, justify a quantity bonus payment i f approximately 1 3-16ths pence per lb, representing a deduction of only one-si\teentb. The Association's policy, which was known ss the loyalty clause, would prevent even this tiivial loss falling upon the loyal suppliers at Aka Aka, and Mr Pacey urged that all who were not committed to t u e other scheme should stand loyally together in the defence of tbeir mutual interest*. This announcement was received with enthusiasm. The meeting concluded with the usuil complimentary resolution.

WHANGARATA.

As a little mark of respect to the wounded soldiers as the hospital train passe) Whangarata on Friday last, the school children, with tbeir teachers, lined up on the road near tha lailway, their own Union Jack in their midst, and gave the heroes in the train hearty cheers. The engine driver recognised the flag and saluted with bis whietK Some of the older inhabitants endeavoure.l to throw flowers into the train, but without much success, owing to the speed, though at least one bunch got on board.

BUCKLAND.

The Buckland Parliamentary Union will re-assemble on Wednesday next when the Munitions and Town Planning bills will be submitted.