TE AROHA DAIRYING

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 75, Issue 177, 29 July 1932, Page 9

TE AROHA DAIRYING

THE WAITOA FACTORY. IMPRESSIVE FIGURES. Writing to a friend in Wanganui, -Mr. J. G. Campbell, late of Brunswick, and now of the To Aroha district, Auckland, has forwarded the following article to serve as an indication of the enormous proportions of the dairying industry in the north:— Proof of the wonderful milk producing qualities of grass lands in the Thames Valley are shown by figures available in regard to the quantity of milk received at the Waitoa, N.Z. Co-operative dried-milk and butter factory for the season 1931-32. During twelve months ending May 31, 1932, the total amount of milk received at the Waitoa factory reached the enormous figure of 77,674,5961 bs., equal to 34,680 tons weight. This was an increase of 28 tons over milk received during tho previous twelve months, the figures for that period totalling 77,622,3351b5., or 34,652 tons. The butter-fat test for over 77 ami and a half million lbs. of milk throughout the season, averaged 4.3, the same test being obtained for the previous 12 months. The highest quantity of milk ever taken at the factory in one year was in 1929-30, when 78,291,8131b5. were received. There was a noticeable increase in tho output of butter and dried milk powder during tho year, as the following figures show: — Milk powder.—l93l-32, 6,202,3821b5. (2769 tons); 1930-31, 6.098,1891b5. (2722 tons). This represents an increase of 47 tons. The butter-fat output during 193031 was 2175 tons, while this season the amount, came to 2222 tons, an increase of 47 tons. On November 20. 1931, the factory reached its peak record for daily supply, taking 36,936 gallons of milk on that date with morning and evening delivery. The Waitoa milk factory is the largest of its kind in the world and gives employment to a permanent, staff of 61, of which number 50 are married men. It. was opened in 1921, and during the first year’s operations, the milk supply amounted to 53,700,0001b5.