Wairarapa Standard Published Tri-weekly, Price 1d. FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 1886. Another Dairy Factory.

Wairarapa Standard, Volume XIX, Issue 1907, 26 November 1886, Page 2

Wairarapa Standard Published Tri-weekly, Price Id. FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 1886. Another Dairy Factory.

Ir is a good sign when farmers take np the question of establishing dairy factories. Hitherto a great deal has been done by storekeepers and residents in the townships, while the fanners have looked askance at these projects, and in many cases have sent in their milk only because pressure was brought to bear upon in the way of argument. If a great success should ultimately be attained in our obeese and butter factories the farmers themselves will not be able to say “We did it.” But in America the case was the same when dairy factories were suggested; it was not the farmers who were the first to enter- upon their establishment with spirit, and owing to this there were many failures. But the farmers were educated by degrees to see the advantages of the new system, and now throughout the length and breadth of the New World there are flourishing dairy factories which have proved of enormons benefit to the farming interest. This experience has been general. In the Waira* rapa, wben the subject was first mooted, there were few found willing to have anything to do with it, but the Press quoted what bad been done in other places, and discussion ensued, which brought about a better state of feeling, and in the end the Greytown Butter and Cheese Factory was started, ; then another sprang up on the Taratahi plain, and now we find the settlers at Dalefield anxious to have a factory there. We are glad to see this advance. It indicates that the farmers are beginning to see plainly the advantages to be derived from co-operation, and it is manifest that the dairy factories already in existence have succeeded fairly well |in public estimation, or no attempt would be made to start another in close proximity to those already well established. Of course there will be differences of opinion as to the advisability of estai ashing another factory at Dalefield and weakening those of Greytown and the Taratahi, but the settlers in the Matarawa and Dalefield districts are of opinion that .a factory somewhere on Water-, son’s line would suit them better, and draw a large quantity of milk. We hope they will count the cost well before they sto't, and get a guarantee as to the quantity of milk to be supplied. The factories already .stabushed in Wairarapa South have bou nt their experience, and we would advise the promoters of this third factory to make use of this experience to its fullest extent. There are many weighty questions to be considered in the starting of a dairy factory, and it will need men of thought as we. I as of action to grapple with them. Dairy farmers have been so slow in the oast to perceive the benefits oi these factories, and have been so back'- rd in supporting them with a supply of - k, that we are a little surprised, to t ,ie truth, at the proposal to start anotLc. "on their own hook.” Still we ate glad for some reasons to find this advance among them, and hope that wise counsels may prevail, and that they may be successful in their efforts. But we fear that if the Matarawa farmers withdrew their supplies from the Greytown Factory it will seriously affect its profitable working. It was built at the south end of Greytown to enable the settlers at Moroa, Morrison’s Bush and Tauherenjkan to send in supplies, but we regret to say that with one or two exceptions nothing has been sent in from th°ae localities. We are not prepared just now to enter fully into the subject of the removal of the Greytown Factory ,to another site north of Greytown. The Waihakeke settlers are not in favor of the proposal to erect a factory at Dalefield ; their suggestion is to erect one near the Waiohine Bridge, which would suit Greytown, Matarawa, Waihakeke, and even Dalefield. If this idea was enter* tained generally, the question would arise whether it would not be better to shift the present Greytown Factory to the north of Greytown. However, the whole matter depends upon the action taken by the settlers at a meeting to be held at the Dalefield schoolhouse next Thursday evening, when we hope a full, representative and thoughtful meeting will consider all the pros and cons in connect tion with the subject. While desirous of establishing a third factory it will be well to consider seriously the effect such a step will have upon those already in working order, and at present doing fairly well.