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DUCK RIVER, BUTTER FACTORY'S
RECORD YEAR
1000-Ton Mark Expected-to Be Reached
by 1940
If the enthusiasts at the then struggling township 'of Smithton
who established a butter factory 35 years ago could have foreseen
the results of to-day they would be more than gratified. It might
be said that they builded better than they knew, though such men
as the late Mr. W. Geale had unbounded faith in their adopted
centre.
The production of butter last year was 620 tons, compared with
380 tons the previous year. The present price paid for butter fat
is 1/3k, and it is anticipated that there will be between £12,000 and
£13,000 to distribute to suppliers at the annual meeting .
Production has overleaped all previous figures, while returns
recall the pre-depression period. It is a tribute to the manager
(Mr. J. W. Wilson), as well as to suppliers that the grade has
risen to over 60 per cent. choice.
The outstanding reason for the jump
in production was the acquisition of
the Stanley business of the N.W. Co
Operative Dairy Co., which has proved
a money-spinner for both organisations.
It eliminated the anomaly of competi
tion where co-operation should rule. To
say that the organisations have bene
fited is to affirm that the suppliers are
the richer for the deal. As proof of
this, the cartage costs of the Smithton
factory are approximately the same as
fast year, when it had to share the bus
iness with the then competing factory's
vans, while, despite the fact that the
production has been nearly doubled, the
total wages for the year rose only from
£2139 to £23690. This should speak for
itself as to the wisdom of the trans
,action.
MORE COWS AND RETURNS.
Another factor must be taken into
account. Dairying last year attracted
more attention. More cows were milk
ed and the returns per cow were high
er. The propaganda of the Depart
ment of Agriculture is sinking in, and
pasture methods are being advanced.
The dairying season has been remark
ably favorable.
The impetus given to the industry in
the district has been sensible, and it is
predicted that the 1000-ton mark will
be reached in twii years. Those with
a knowledge of the amazing potential
ities of the Circular Head district will
not be surprised if the prediction be
verifled. The territory is capable of
greater results.
Unlike the rest of the North
West, there are relatively few areas
that might be described as waste
land. The terrain is unusually
even, the altitude low, and, as
proved in the Smithton swamp, the
lowest lying land is actually the
best. Physically, the Circular Head
district is the most favored in Tas
mania for land production, and of
late it has shown remarkable ex
pansion in productivity.
HIGH-QUALITY BUTTER.
One of the pleasing features associat
ed with the factory is the rise in choice
quality. The chairman of directors
(Mr. J. W. Monson) referred with sat
isfaction to the excellent results obtain
ed by Mr. Wilson, the manager. He
recalled that two years ago the pro
portion of choicest butter was down to
10 per cent.; for the last season the
average for the whole output was over
60 per cent. choice.
One of the factors making for better
butter is the improvement in the water
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supplied. In the old days the factory
managcrs were often at their wits' ends
to get sufficient water in the summer
months, and the quality was never of
the best. Now the factory is served
by an excellent system, which also does
duty for the town, the water coming
from Young's Hill, Irishtown.
FACTORY ENLARGEMENT.
To make provision for the growth of
production, it has been found desirable
to add to the factory and the scheme,
which is now in hand, will cost, includ
tng machinery, some £1300. The chair
man remarked that with the additions
an output of up to SO tons per week
could be handled. The management,
it will be realised, is looking ahead.
With the improved financial results
due to better prices and a larger turn
over with a fractional increase in costs,
there should be nothing to fear from
the future, even from the many cheese
plants that have sprung up in the dis
trict. This, when taken into account,
illustrates the extent that dairy pro
duction has developed in the territory.
BETTER TRANSPORT.
One of the problems in the past
which is on the point of solution is that
of transport. It was a menacing fac
tor in the early days when the roads
were bad and the means of transport
primitive. The carting of butter in
the summer sun for the 14 miles to
Stanley-hal' the distance being over
a sand track- -was a serious disability.
Of late years, the road has been im
proved, and the day when there will be
a bitumen highway uniting the two
towns is not far distant. Some £13,000
has been made available for the work
for the present financial year.
But there has been a still further dis
ability. Most of the butter made at
Smithton finds its way over the water.
This applies not only to the overseas
trade, but to the ordinary surplus. It
has been found cheaper to market in
Melbourne than in Hobart, and the but
ter is shipped from Stanley. The
absence of cool chamber accommoda
tion on the Strait traders has proved a
handicap, but the assurance has been
given by the Holyman Line that a cool
chamber will be fitted in the Woniora
for the coming season. This promise
is regarded with much satisfaction.
As for the season ahead, already there
has been a move upward. The district
is mild, owing to the absence of high
mountains and the nearness of the sea
on two sides-the north and west. Pro
duction last week was five tons, show
ing an advance of 10 cwt. on the prev
ious week. The new season promises
to be better for production than last.
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