CLEVEDON.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 5, Issue 177, 26 May 1916, Page 3

CLEVEDON.

DISTRICT NEWS

MEETING OF DAIRY FARMERS.

CHEESE FACTORY ADVOCATED

A largely attended meeting took place at Clevedon Public Hall on Saturday afternoon last, when Mr William Goodfellow, managing director of the Waikato Co-operative Dairy -Company, Ltd,, and of the Waikato Co-operative Cheese Company, Ltd., met the dairy farmers of the district. Mr Luke was voted to the chair

Mr Goodfellow briefly outlined the bi; tory of the Waikato Co-op-erative Dairy Company's operations in Clevedon, pointing out the fact that the Company received cream from 800 to 900 cows during the past season, being roughly one-half of the total supply available. He further read extracts from a letter received by him from the late Mr James McKnight, to prove that an offer had been made for the purchase of the local factory, at a valuation basis, for cash. The offer, however, was declined. Notwithstanding this offer, since Mr McKnight's death the trustees had offered the business to the Dairy Association, although that concern had no suppliers in the district. Mr Goodfellow said the suppliers interested in cheese were still prepared to negotiate for the factory if the district would support a cheeie icheme. Butter manufacture was out of the question, the supply being far too small and no company could possibly rmi the business and pay out top prices without a loss. Under the proposed scheme, suppliers within three miles could support cheese, and til otbers could separate and send cream to Mercer, as in the past. Mr Goodfellow strongly urged the suppliers to pull together and help the district along. Mr E. R. Hastie asked if the Waikato Dairy Company's directors were all farmers and wished to know how they were elected —ln reply, Mr Goodfellow explained the usual method of election and further etated that no "dry" shareholder had ever yet voted at an election of directors.

Replying to a question put by Mr Fawcett Mr Goodfellow explained fully the original formation of the Company and stated emphatically that neither he nor anyone else held a tingle share that nal not been paid for at full face value. Mr Aicken asked : Do tbe directors git any profits ?—Mr W. £. G. Wily, a director of the Waikato Company from Turua, in reply, stated that he could give an absolute denial to any assertion that the directors of tha Waikato Dairy Company had ever received any profits. As a matter of fact he had personally been out of pocket, seeing that the amount rjceived was 10s 6d for meeting, plui travelling expenses

The chairman then read out returrs hanr'ed in by Mr T Murray and also by Mr James Lane, eivirg tbe amuar.t ttf butter-fat and cheques ttey had received from the Waikato Daiiy Crmpanv flu'ing the past season Mr William Brown, a director of the Weikaio Cooperative Cheese Company, Limited, East Tamaki branch, gave details of the Company's operation in his district He stated that the suppliers :f the E st Tamaki branch weie thoroughly satisfied in csery way. The busiresa had been well handled. He advised the Clevedon pcorle to slick togfther ard "swing in" with the Waikato Co-jperative C'heess Company Mr Dynes Fulton, chairman of the Tuakeu Town Board, being ptesent, was then asked to speak. He stated there were several things he desired to say, ard he wished bis hearers to understand that he stated factß and would substantiate any statement he made. He had been a supplier to tbe Dairy Association until last November, and moreover had been a Blrong supporter of the atoresaid company, and a very strong opponent to home separation. However, he had Ift the Association and he was now a supplier to the Waikato Cc-operative Dairy Company Limited. He turther stated tbat in November last three ot the largest suppliers tn the Tuakau creamery had left and joined the Waikato Company, and speaking for himself, he could say it was the first satisfactory run re bad bad for years. With regard to the taking over ot the Clevedon fictory by the Dairy Association, he would like to give bis hearers his own experience of a similar transac'ion. In Orewbero the pairy Association bought the plant pf the Onewhero Co-opfrative Dairy Company of which hp, Mr Fulton, was a director, agreeing to, run the store fcinioeES and induced him to tenr'er tor the cream catting on the uoe'e standing that he would cart the stores from Tuak?u railway station. As soon as the suppliers were signed up and the shares allotted, the Dairy Association failed to tulfil their contract re the store, and be refused to cart the cream and finally handed the contract over tn another firm. The Dairy Association ran the factory for a time as n creamery and then closed ;t altogether and built a new creamery near-hy. In Hunua the As-ociatinn leased the local butter factory end closing down the tutter plant used the building as a creamery. The Waikato Company WBS wholly co-operative, and his late visit to Taranaki, where he had closely investigated couperation, had proved to him tbat t.hc Waikato Corrpany was on a •sunder footing than any eo-opcra-live dairy company lie krew of. lie considered that the Clevedon dairymen might do worse than "ipport Mr Goodfelluw's proposition Afttr a 1 w remarks by ether ■speakers, Mr Fawcett moved a vote of thanks to ar.d confidence in the Waikato Cc-operative Company, !mi ted, for the businepslike manner in which they had basdUd l>c Clevedon suppliers' cream r'urtng (lis past reason. The motion v.-.is ciirned amidst loud applau;-c Mr Ijjodfillow I'aiintkd suppliers thit iha Company's annual dinner would Le teld on Thursday, June Ist, during Winter Show week, and he Inped to meet a large num'jcr ct thosi preser t there