1941

The 10th day of July, 1941, is a red letter day in the history of the Company. an agreement was entered into with the Waipu Co-operative Dairy Coy. which may be termed either amalgamation, or merger, or union, being actually a combination of all three.

The circumstances leading up to this happy result, advantageous to all concerned, are fully set out in the Waipu Record of this publication.  The terms of the agreement included: -

• The Waipu Company would cease independent operation
• Waipu supply from the South of Deviation Hill would come to Maungaturoto.
• Waipu would be given a cream collection service as good as existing at July, 1941
• Waipu Shareholders would become supplying shareholders on the same basis as other new suppliers.
• The Maungaturoto Company would increase its Directorate by two members, to be nominated by Waipu and not to be opposed for two years.
• Compensation would be paid to Waipu 510 tons of output at the rate of £5/5/- per ton.

Thus in one day, the Company graduated into the Big Company class with an addition to its output of 30%, approximately 442 tons - an enlargement calculated to effect economies in overhead and manufacturing costs, leading to a new high level in nett payout to its old and new members in the much enlarged area of supply.

We are informed that the negotiations which led to this happy result were carried out with great goodwill on both sides.  Doubtless the cordial relations which have always existed between peoples of both settlements, contributed to the equitable agreement arrived at.

The following comment is written by a leading man of the Waipu supply district:

"It is my considered opinion, after eleven years, that the Amalgamation as planned and as carried out, has been a benefit to all concerned.  I would strongly oppose the suggestion of a breakaway in the future if one was ever mooted."

The succeeding eleven years are shown by statistics to be years of steady growth; membership numbers have not increased largely, but the output of butter has grown in a spectacular way, in the Jubilee year, reaching 2,686 tons.

It is evident that the increased volume of late years it due to larger contributions from individual suppliers and an advance towards intensive farming.

1947

In 1947, a Veterinary Service covering Maungaturoto and Waipu was inaugurated.

1948

In 1948, the Company began the manufacture of Buttermilk powder and this extension has been successful in spite of the major cost of  £22,000.  These were deemed necessary to cope with the present high peak supply.

Following is a comparison of the first full year of operation and the record of the Jubilee year:

(The first season is not shown as it was only of  four months.)

The Jubilee Year is a notable milestone; it marks the culmination of fifty years of hard work, sound judgement, courage and enterprise - years of good team work of Directors, suppliers and staff.

We have endeavoured to set out the great contribution made by the early promoters, who from 1901, piloted the Company through years of difficulty and discouragement.  We have featured some of these early personalities and regret being unable to put on record the many others who were not in office, but whose staunch support was the first essential for success.

This then, is the story of the Maungaturoto Co-operative Dairy Company, an industrial romance, an example and inspiration for the years to come.