KAKEPUKU.

Waipa Post, Volume VII, Issue 336, 31 July 1914, Page 5

KAKEPUKU.

(Own Correspondent.)

A well-represented and enthusiastic meeting was held in the public school on Tuesday evening for the purpose of further considering the advisability of erecting a cheese factory in this district. Mr J. Oliver was voted to the chair, and briefly outlined the history of.the movement to date, and introduced Mr Demster, who was present in the interests of the cheese-making industry. lie received a patient hearing throughout the whole of his address. In the course of his remarks he stated that the approximate cost of a cheese-making plant suitable for a district with 500 cows would be £IOOO. This amount included a manager’s residence. He strongly recommended the settlers to go in for cheese-making in preference to home separation, maintaining that the industry of cheese manufacture will in the future be a worthy rival of butter-making.. Butter in the Home market was , gradually losing ground chiefly, owing, to the home separation. As a revenue-producing proposition it more than favourably compared with the home separation scheme now in vogue in the district.

At the conclusion of his address, it was apparent that the settlers were satisfied with the feasibility of the scheme. Mr Demster was asked a number of questions, all of which were satisfactorily answered. One and all were of opinion that there would be no • difficulty in financing the scheme, and it was evident that more than 500 cows would, be supplying milk. At a previous meeting the chief bone of contention was over the most suitable locality in which to erect the plant, and as could only be expected, there was a great diversity of opinion on the matter. However, on the motion of Mr H. Tanner, it was decided to leave the matter of the final choice in the hands of Mr Demster. A hearty vote of thanks was given to Mr Demster for his able and instructive address. Before concluding the meeting Mr Oliver took the opportunity to mention that he had approached the Waitomo County Council, as delegate on behalf of residents in the matter of this district seceding from that body,, and to come under the jurisdiction of the Waipa County Council. At a number of meetings held recently it was unanimously agreed that the district would receive more benefit if included in the latter’s territory, and petitions to this effect were freely signed. At present no rates are paid, and the roads are kept by the unsatisfactory method of grants from the Government. The W aitomo Counfcil assured Mr Oliver, that it would not oppose the movement, so that it only remains to approach the Government on the matter, when there should be little difficulty in finally settling the question. The settlers will then be able to demand a reasonable amount of attention for their roads, which we hope will soon he put in a more satisfactory condition. A vote of thanks to the chair concluded a meeting which marks two important steps for the advancement of the district.