DAIRY FARMING

Southland Times, Issue 22043, 16 June 1933, Page 5

DAIRY FARMING

SOUTH HILLEND FACTORY.

RE-OPENING CONSIDERED.

In 1914 a cheese factory was built at South Hillend, and in 1918 it closed, and since then the building, a fine concrete one, has lain practically idle. Yesterday about a score of the farmers in the district met to discuss the possibility of re-opening the factory, and it was agreed that it should be put into use once more next season if sufficient support is guaranteed. . Mr J. Boyle presided over the meeting and the alternative proposals of opening the factory as a co-operative or proprietary concern were discussed. Messrs G. Reeves (Gore), and T. Rae (Invercargill), who have both had experience in cheese-making, were present at the meeting and offered to work the factory for the district at a fixed price per pound butter-fat if sufficient milk were guaranteed. Mr J. L. Orr, Invercargill, who is secretary for several dairy factories, was also present. In opening the meeting Mr Boyle said that they were gathered together to consider re-opening the factory, and in his opinion, the time was opportune. When the factory was opened in 1914 it cost about £l6OO, and at the present time it was possible for the farmers in the district to have a factory at no expense to themselves. When the factory was working it had reached an output of 70 tons, but that had dropped to 20 tons during the last season. Mr Rae said that as he had disposed of the Orepuki factory he was prepared to open the factory for the district. Many of the farmers in the district were anxious to have the factory open, and if a good enough guarantee could be secured there was no reason why the project should not be gone on with.

Mr Boyle said he thought they should get an expression of opinion from prospective suppliers. One farmer said he milked a number of cows, but had no means of transporting the milk'. Another said he would be ■■ ble to arrange transport. “How many cows would be required?” Mr Boyle asked. Mr Rae: About 500.

Mr Boyle said he did not think there would be more than 300 in the district.

It took five cows to produce a ton of cheese, Mr Rae said, and if they could work on a hundred-ton basis it would mean a lower overhead cost.

Mr J. L. Orr quoted figures to show the cost of producing cheese, these figures revealing that the cost on a 100ton basis amounted to slightly over 4d per lb of butter-fat, while on a 35 or 40-ton basis the cost was about 6d. Mr A. Ward moved and Mr T. Kirkwood seconded that the factory should be re-opened if sufficient suppliers could be secured, and this was carried. Mr Orr explained the procedure required to start a co-operative factory, and after further discussion it was agreed that the district should be canvassed and another meeting should be held as soon as the canvass was finished.