Towards the end of the century sawmilling was beginning to wane in the district. Most of the timber on the low lands had been milled.
A great amount of bush had been felled, then burnt off, and the land between the logs and stumps sown in English grasses. Stock had been procured and farming operations had begun.
Up till then the milk was set in large shallow pans and skimmed by hand, the cream churned in small round churns operated by a handle and turned by hand, thus separating the butter from the milk. What was left was called butter milk. This butter milk was fairly rich with a good flavour, in fact it was too rich to feed direct to the pigs and had to be watered down.
By this time the cream separator had been invented and was proving successful.
Levin Co-operative Dairy Coy. Limited
On 3rd May, 1899, 10 outstanding and foreseeing gentlemen gathered in the Roads Board office at Levin. They were Messrs. C.K. Wilson, Hawkins, S.G. Cole, Burnell, Hurst, S.A. Broadbelt, E.S. Lancaster, Palms, Windeler and T.A. Hudson (Secretary Pro. Tem).
Mr. Wilson chaired the meeting which elected provisional directors to secure capital and cows.
This was followed by a meeting of the provisional directors held on the 6th May, 1899, in Mr. Hudson’s office. Mr. Palms was in the chair, and it was resolved that the name of the company be the “Levin Co-operative Dairy Company Limited”.
The capital was settled at £1,200 in 600 shares at £2 each, payable 5/- on application and 5/- on allocation. It was also decided that the site of the factory should be in Queen Street, Levin. Eight of those present at the first meeting held on the 3rd May became the first shareholders, and the number of cows expected to supply totalled 160, and the number of shares taken up by each shareholder was based on the principle of one share of £2 for each cow milked. One of these had 30 cows, 30 shares £60, one of 25 cows, 25 shares £50, four had 20 cows each at 20 shares £40, one had 15 cows, 15 shares £30, and one had 10 cows, 10 shares £20 – making a total of 160 cows, 160 shares £320. Thus the foundation was truly laid and the “Levin Co-operative Dairy Company” had its humble beginning.
Shortly after the company’s incorporation 3 creameries (or skimming stations) were built, 1 at Muhunoa East, this was managed by Mr. Alfred Whiley, 1 at Kereru (later changed to Koputaroa) managed by Mr. Walter Whiley at salary £120 per year, and the other at Heatherlea, first manager (no record), Mr. H. Humphrey 1921 – 1927. The cream thus collected was then carted to the factory at Levin for processing.
A year later a creamery was built at Linton, and the directors were successful in persuading the Wellington-Manawatu Railway Company to stop the train at Linton and pick up the cream, and so the surrounding district was well catered for and served. A creamery was also built at Kimberley at a later date and managed by Mr. J.W. Long. In the first 10 months of operation 52½ tons of butter was manufactured. This amount increased annually until in 1936 the output reached 2,064 tons.
The first Manager was Mr. James Aim followed by Mr. Dempster, then Mr. J. Smellie, then Mr. B.S. Parsons. The company had had 5 Chairman of Directors over the period from its beginning in 1899 to the present 1968 – Mr. E.S. Lancaster 1899-1902, Mr. S.A. Broadbelt 1902-08 and again 1929-35. Mr. Broadbelt also gave sterling service as a Director for 46 years, 34 of which he served as Chairman. Mr. James Prouse 1908-18, Mr. T.G. Vincent 1945-54 and Mr. Duncan Guy 1954- .
It is worthy of note for this history to point out that no less than 4 residents of Muhunoa East gave service on the Directorate, namely Mr. R.A. Rolston who was first elected in 1909 and served continuously until his death on 26th December, 1935. Mr. William Read elected 1911-17, Mr. A.S. Death elected 1918 and continued till his death in 1933, Mr. Samuel Rolston Jnr. Elected 1920-1938.
These are only some of the men who gave unstintingly of their best years. To them we owe our deep gratitude for the heritage they won and left us. The Levin Dairy Company was famous throughout the dairying industry for the high quality of its butter, and its managers won many prizes at shows all down the years.
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