MANGOREI DAIRY FACTORY

Taranaki Daily News, 26 November 1926, Page 11

MANGOREI DAIRY FACTORY

OFFICIAL OPENING CEREMONY. GREAT RECORD OF PROGRESS. Yesterday marked an epoch in the history of the Mangorei Co-operative Dairy Company, for in the afternoon was held the official opening of the company’s new butter factory which has superceded the wooden structure built thirty-two years ago. Long before the time for the opening ceremony, which was performed by Mr. C. E. Bellringer, M.P., cars conveyed large numbers of people to the factory which, by two o’clock, was thronged practica’ly to its utmost capacity. Among those present were a number of former suppliers and early settlers who had interests in the factory in its early days. It gave him great pleasure, said Mr. G. Marsh, chairman of directors, to welcome so many friends and suppliers at their opening. Although the factory actually commenced running, on September 11 last there still remained a good deal to do in finishing off everything as well as metalling and cleaning up the site and this, coupled with the long spell of wet weather they had experienced during the past two months, caused the directors to postpone the official opening until the weather was more settled. EARLY DAYS OF THE COMPANY. The company was formed during the year 1895 and commenced operations in the factory building recently pulled down to make room for the new structure, on October 1 of that year, the first board of directors being Messrs. A. Morton (chairman), Henry King, D. Alexander, Harry Peters and the late J. P. Henderson, Jas. Wade and Frank Oliver. The quantity of milk received during that year was 495,903 gallons, from which 99 tons of butter were manufactured. The amount distributed amongst shareholders was £6OBB 7s, making the average rate of payment for the milk as received 271-75 d per gallon. During the year ended June 30, 1926, the cream received was 2,380,5771b5., which would be equivalent to the same number of gallons of milk, and the amount distributed amongst suppliers was £65,091 17s 9d, making the average rate of payment Is 6fd per lb. butter-fat. Of the original board of directors only four, Messrs. A. Morton, D. Alexander, Henry King and Harry Peters, were now alive, and it gave him great pleasure to see two of them with them that day as the successful financial position the company was in to-day was due in no small measure to their fore-thought and sound business knowledge when the factory was established 31 years ago. Mr. Marsh deeply regretted that the late Mr. J. Henderson, who passed away only a few weeks ago, was not spared to be present with them. From the date of the opening of the factory in 1895 until June 30 last he was actively connected with the company in various capacities and he assured them that no man ever connected with the company did more than he in assisting in its progress. OPERATIONS COMMENCED. Soon after the company commenced operations the directors began to erect and equip creameries on several of the main arterial roads, and for many years seven skimming stations were run. In later years this system was superceded by home separation and to-day all their creameries had disappeared, the whole supply of the company being collected by motor lorries, the result being that whilst they were now handling double the quantity of cream in comparison to the time when the whole milk system was in vogue they had a staff, inclusive of four lorry drivers, of four men less. Mr. Marsh complimented the suppliers on the way they had supported the company. During the past year, he said, their output was 461 tons of butter, and during the current year it would probably exceed 500 tons considerably, and he felt sure that in the course of the next few years the factory- would be working to its full capacity, 750 tons. During the past 31 years the old company, like many of its neighbours, had met with many ups and downs as well as keen competition, but it had safely weathered them all and if the loyalty of the suppliers was maintained is was hard to say to whatextent the company would have grown 31 years hence, but he was sure they would still be going strong. Mr. Marsh congratulated the contractor, Mr. F. E. Cooper, Messrs. Mac Ewan and Co., Ltd., who erected the plant for the new factory and the old 32 years ago, and the architect, Mr. W. N. Stephenson, a former supplier and director of the company. Before declaring the factory officially opened, Mr. C. E. Bellringer, M.P., congratulated the chairman and directors upon their new' building, which, he said, gave evidence of the progress of the company and the district, a progress which was most remarkable. They would secure the more perfect manufacture of butter, and if they were to preserve their trade and hold the market, they must produce the most perfect article. In this they would be helped Uy the improvements they had effected to their building. FACING COMPETITION. In the future they would have to face competition, and they must meet it by producing something better. He congratulated them on turning out something to hold its own with other countries, which were sending butter to London. In addition to good manufacturing of the article, they would have to increase their production. They would meet increased competition in the future and, as a. result, larger quantities would be on the market, which, it was recognised, would lower prices. If so, they must find the means to increase their production so that although prices might not be so high, they would still get an adequate return. They had to work their farms on business. lines, and thus receive a fair return for the large amount of labour required. RESOLUTION IN THE FUTURE. He was not going to touch on the question of control, continued Mr. Bellringer, but he thought it a pity that at the present juncture a change should have

been made. They would have to face the situation, and he hoped they would not become panicky. There were places about of historic interest, and he was satisfied that as in the past they would meet the situation in the best spiritone of resolution —and would win through. They might have to meet many changes, but they would meet with success if they were resolute and worked in a satisfactory and fair manner. -Ie hoped they would reap a rich reward from the money they had put into their factory, and be always in the sunshine of prosperity. Mr. Bellringer then declared the factory officially opened. Mr. H. Peters, one of the first suppliers and directors of the factory, was called upon to speak. He expressed pleasure at being present, and said that as one of the originators of the factory hp could speak of the hardships with which they had to contend. HARDSHIPS TO CONTEND WITH. Before a company was formed they were being paid s’/sd for butter-fat. Four of them then thought of forming a company. Mr. A. Morton and he attended a meeting at Inglewood, among other places, which was not satisfactory. Messrs. Frank Oliver, James Wade and Henry King then proposed forming a company so he and Mr. Morton joined in. They had no money but were advanced £3OOO by the bank, for which they had to give a guarantee. They built a factory and three creameries, one at Kent Road, one at Egmont Village and one at Kaimiro. They made a mistake with the Kent Road creamery, for the settlers at the top would not come in. They held innumerable meetings, but no one knew anything about it, However, they did their best and although the separators were a failure, they hit upon the right kind of engines. As often as not they started work at 2 o’clock in the morning. Mr. J. O’Dea, chief grading supervisor for the North Island, said he worked in the factory 22 years ago, when the present chairman’s father was one of the directors, fie made brief reference to the benefits of the assistance of an inspector and of farm dairy instruction.

At the conclusion of the ceremony the visitors were entertained at afternoon tea and Were photographed in front of the factory. In the evening the staff of the factory held a most enjoyable danee in the Mangorei Hall to celebrate the occasion.