DAIRY FARMERS' AFFAIRS

Waikato Times, Volume 92, Issue 14364, 15 May 1920, Page 5

DAIRY FARMERS' AFFAIRS

THE DRIED MILK INDUSTRY. MEETING AT TE AWAMUTU. There was a big' meeting of dairy farmers at Te Awamutu last niglit on the occasion of the election of the Te Awamutu Dairy Committee. The main topic was dried milk. Mr Goodfellow was present representing Zealandia Co-operative Milkfoods, Ltd. Mr J. T. Johnson, chairman of last year's committee, introduced MrTOoodfellow, who, he stated, would outline the reasons for the change in plan for the Te Awamutu dried milk factory.

Reviewing the position, Mr Goodfellow spoke of Ihe lour of America thai had been taken by dairy company representatives, and told how the spray process was chosen, and the New Zealand rights were obtained from a company in California. The company now ihad the right to export the powder to any part of the world. Contracts had then been let for the factory at Waliaroa, where it had been 'hoped to erect a factory capable of working 5000 cows. The first factory was now complete, and milk would be passed through it next week. The Te Awamutu factory would be commenced shortly and £70,000 was in hand for the Te Awamutu and Morrinsville factories. The lowest tender for the Te Awamutu building was £23,415r, and thus it was decided lo limit the factory to a twounit one, capable of handling AOOO cows. The cost of this would be approximately I*lo,ooo. This sum had been arrived at after very careful consideration of the problem.

Dealing with the prospects of dried milk, Mr GoouXellow referred to Mr Dempster's report. This report was an excellent and true one. It showed that there would be a field for dried milk, and there was every indication of a big market being opened at Home. It, would mean expenditure, but the prospects ahead were good. Dried milk and butter were/good propositions for the dairy farmer. "I might say," added Mr Goodfellow, "that Ho: yarn about butter at 3s a In is a canard and quite untrue. It may be Hie retail price. We may get 2s 4d—probably 2s a pound." Fanners, he added, did not want to sell; they wished to consign, their butter. (Hear, bear.) The imperial Government stale,l that no private firm at Home would be allowed lo import butler on private account. Private cables however, indicated that there might be a hope of n free market. Various questions were satisfactorily answered by Mr Goodfellow. The following three gentlemen were elected lo represent Te Awamutu on the directorate of Zclandia Milkfoods, L,t<l.:—Messrs J. T. Johnson, W. <i. Macky, J. G. Sutherland. The following resolution was carried unanimously: "Thai, this large meeting of dairy farmers ask the Premier to use his best endeavours to obtain a free market for the Dominion's dairy produce, and emphatically protests against any further control of prices." It was decided, amid applause, to proceed with the erection of a twovnit factory at Te Awamutu.