The Temuka Leader SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 1886. PROPOSED JAM FACTORY.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1512, 13 November 1886, Page 2

The Temuka Leader SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 1886. PROPOSED JAM FACTORY.

The proposal to establish a jam fictorjr at Winchester has been taken up so enthusiastically that no one need be afraid that it will fall through. Nothing is wanted now but capital, and surely there will be no difficulty in raising £ISOO for establishing an industry in which such. a widespread interest is felt. There was only one question on which the meeting hesitated, and that was the price of fruit. We hare since then received information from a gentleman in Akaros, which shows that the factory can afford to give even 4d per lb tor some kinds of fruit, and yet pay handsomely. He is a practical jam maker;

be is not one anxious to secure an appointment as manager, as be does not require it, and therefore what he says may be taken as correct. To begin in a small way, be says that a three-roomed building would do, and that a first-class plant would cost only £2OO. Bottled fruits sell uncommonly well, and are more profitable than jam, Canned fruits are also profitable, and tins are preferable to jars for jam. All depends on the jam mhker. If he understands bis business he can make jam at any price, and it is advisable to pay a good man good wages, for if a good man is secured the industry must prosper, The reason the Akaroa industry fell through was because a novice who did not know his business was placed in the position of manager, and if that is done in Winchester it will fail also. In addition to the above bints be has forwarded to ns the following balance-sheet showing the probable cost of first-class jam, and the return therefrom ; Db. £ i. d. 20 tona sugar, at £26 per ton ... 520 0 0 , 20 tons f ruit—damsons, plums, peaches,' rhubarb,' goose-, ' berries, apples—at Id per lb 166 13 4 2 tons greengage plum, at 2d,,. 74 13 4 4 tons raspberries, apricots, strawberries, at 4d„, ... 149 6 8 2 tons currants, at 3d 56 0 0 6 tons coal, at 30s per ton ... 9 0 0 107,600 tins, labels, wrapped, filled, ete., etc. (contract), at Ud ... ... ... 559 17 II 1000 cases made and finished, and cartage (contract) to railway or wharf, at Is 4d... 60 13 4 Wages for manufacturer, etc.... 109 0 0 Total 1722 4 7 To balance ■ 692 7 1 Grand total £2314 11 8 Ob. 107,500 lb-tins fam, packed, etc., in cases, at 5d per 1b... 2239 11 8 20 caeks wine, at 2s 6d gallon... 75 0 6 Total ... £2314 11 8 It will be seen from this that on making 86 tons of jam there would be a profit of nearly 40 per cent, and this tallies so well with what Mr Blizard—- another practical jam maker—said, that doubtless it must be somewhere in the neighborhood of the truth. But supposing both of them exaggerated by one-half, the industry would be yet good enough, and on these gronnds we strongly recommend those interested to take up shares without putting the Company to the expense ot canvassing for them.