NORTH TARANAKI FACTORIES

Taranaki Daily News, 11 September 1934, Page 26 (Supplement)

NORTH TARANAKI FACTORIES

PROGRESS IN EVERY DIRECTION. HIGH QUALITY THE PRIMARY AIM. Activity in dairy factory building in North Taranaki in common with the rest of the province has not been allowed to lag during the period <jf economic stress. In fact during the past couple of years' probably more improvements in factory ; buildings and plant have taken place than at any other period, until over the i whole coastal district extending from i Opunake to Awakino there are compara- : tively few buildings which have not. either been re-built or extensively remodelled and brought up-to-date to cope with , the estimated requirements of the next few years. In all the work that is now being carried on quality is the keynote. Quality of the highest, “nothing can be too good” may now be regarded as the slogan of the dairying industry. For a time some years ago quantity rather ’ tn.-je ca'.ality was the aim of the indusf Those times have been relegated to' the past. The 'farmer has made ‘ marked improvement in the quality of his milk, but the dairy factory director is leaving nothing to chance and is installing the most modern pasteurising systems to second the farmers’ efforts. Expenditure, even heavy expenditure, is considered wise if improved quality can be gained, and a brief survey of the marked improvements that have been effected in North Taranaki during the past year or two will give an indication of what has been done or is being done by the industry in its endeavour to improve | conditions.

The Rahotu Dairy Company recently opened a new making room which is said to be the largest in the Dominion, being of 19 vat capacity, and gives the company practically a complete new factory. The latest plant has been installed including a "heat exchanger” said to be the largest in the world. This company has also built a new office capable of accommodating all the suppliers at the annual meeting as well as a new cottage for one of its assistants. COMFORT OF STAFF. Tire Opunake Dairy Company is also erecting a modem residence for its manager to replace one destroyed by- fire. Another pleasing feature is that factory directors generally of late years have been giving full consideration to the comfort of their managers and assistants, ’•ealising that if a manager is satisfied with his surroundings better results are likely to be achieved. , Warea factory, following a fire, was rebuilt on the most modem approved lines and equipped with all the latest plant for quality produce. Extensive improvements are also being made to the grounds, which are being planned and planted so as to be in keeping with the factory itself.

Here, too, is another marked advance that has taken place of late years. With the coming into being of the more modern type of factory building, suppliers, the staff and the directors are all taking pride in the environment of the building, with the result that a transformation has taken place, and there are now in process of development shrubberies, lawns, gardens, rock gardens etc. where formerly were to be seen unsightly places littered with all kinds of factory flotsam and jetsam. Longer ago it was very much the exception rather than the rule to see a factory with bright surroundings. A quarter of a century ago the Maketawa Dairy Company was a striking lone example, and its well-kept lawns and trim grounds were always greatly admired by railroad travellers, and in those cays it was on the main thoroughfare from Auckland to Invercargill. Now it is becoming the exception to find a factory with unsightly surroundings. This improved factory environment is also reflected in the sheds on the farms.

At Newall Road extensive internal reorganisation has taken place to cope with the increased supply. Here also the surroundings are being improved. At Oxford Road a complete new and modern concrete factory has been erected and equipped, while the old factory has been pulled down and a good house for the assistant erected. The surroundings are also being improved. As at Warea, this is arduous work, as the ground is very stony. Patua factory has been considerably altered and remodelled, the building hav4 ing been recently painted. The plant has been reorganised for more efficient working and new plant has been installed, with quality again the aim. Both here and also at Okato the surroundings have been improved, as they have been at Brooklands, also a modern factory only rebuilt two or three years ago.

Omata dairy factory was also very extensively enlarged and altered just over twelve months ago, the district now possessing an entirely new and up-to-date factory in concrete, equipped with modem plant. Rotokare dairy factory has been equipped with a new chum and other plant to enable it to cope better with the local trade.

Frankley Road district, after the fire which destroyed the factory a little more than twelve months ago, built a new factory on the most up-to-date lines and equipped with the most modem machinery.

At Tikorangi very extensive additions are now in course of completion and will ‘enable the company to handle the increasing supply on the most hygienic lines. This district, which was one Of the first in Taranaki to build in brick about thirty years ago, has always kept to the forefront and the work now in hand, together with the electrical installation, will enable the company to manufacture a still nigher grade article.

The North Taranaki Dairy Company’s two factories at Onaero and at Waipapa were rebuilt on modem lines a few years back, but all the tim'e new plant is being installed and they are both now equipped with the very latest equipment, new houses having been erected to cater for the staff.

The Okau Company has also completed additions to cope with increasing supply. , The Mokau Dairy Company, Taranaki’s northernmost dairy company, is just completing very extensive additions in concrete, which will give the district one of the most modem factories in the province. Its" output has advanced rapidly until this year it reached 230 tons. Recognising the productive potentialities of the district, the directors have built the new factory to cope with an output of 600 tons. INLAND FACTORIES. Inland dairy companies have also kept apace- with the march of progress. Mangorei has erected a new and commodious box room as an adjunct to its up-to-date butter factory. This room is large enough to accommodate the annual meeting of the company at which ovOr 100 suppliers attend and will facilitate operations considerably. MOa Dairy Company has a factory which is right up to the moment and so has Tarata.

Kaimata factory is one of the few in Taranaki that the district has outgrown, but the directors realise the position and it will be probably one of the next to be rebuilt on modern lines, as at the last annual meeting suppliers authorised the directors to investigate the question of rebuilding. This review outlines a few of the improvements that have been effected in the past year Or two. Numerous other factories, including Oaonui and its branches, Cape Egmont, Kahui, Royal Oak, Bell Block, Tarurutartgi; Lepperton, Waitoitoi, Uruti, Tariki, Rugby Road, Midhirst and others have been brought right up to date during late years. Midhirst factory has erected one of the most modern casein drying plants in the Dominion also. At all factories the winter months are spent by -the staff in overhauling' the plant, effecting repairs and generally getting ready for. another season’s efficient working, whilst in most factories it is found desirable to add some new plant. With prices of butter-fat so low some people have marvelled that the dairy farmer, who is right up against it in the matter of finance for his own private affairs, should be apparently so Irtish in his expenditure on his factory. It is simply because the race is now for quality. The dairy farmer realises that it is quality that is going to count more than ever in the future and that he cannot afford to neglect anything that is going to count in the race. It is also recognised that in order to ensure that nothing but the best leaves the Dominion grading will probably be tightened up. Moreover, if any restrictions are to be introduced, it is realised that the factory that is the best equipped to manufacture high grade produce will receive the most consideration.

The whole Dominion "depends largely for its prosperity on the prosperity of the dairy farmer. He deserves full support therefore for the great effort that he is making to achieve quality—the dominant factor to-day. How great that effort is one can realise by comparing the factories of to-day and their environment with those of a few years ago.