RETAILING BUTTER.

Auckland Star, Volume LVII, Issue 258, 30 October 1926, Page 4

RETAILING BUTTER.

THE POUND PAT. PAINS AND PENALTIES. Following a careful readjustment of weights and measures in respect to butter pats, or lbs. there is a general feeling of unrest prevalent amongst local butter-makers, writes the Marlborough correspondent of the "New Zealand Dairyman." Recent inspection at stores and factories has caused quite a flutter i on those farms which specialise in sup-1 plying home-made butter to the country j stores, etc The "powers that be" are insisting on at least a quarter of an | ounce overweight, to allow foT shrinkage | and loss of weight by any other means. I The farmer's wife is so .afraid of a penalty that a little over the Joz is added to be sure of being on the safe side, and this allowance constitutes quite a large item in a churning. In future the maker's name and district must be clearly shown on the package, not written, but printed, and the word "pound" must take the place of the familiar "pat." The word "pat" gave the dairyman a freer feeling, as it was sold as a pat, not a pound. Anyway, it is to be pound in future- The description must contain the requisite words, and read thus: "Mrs. John Jones, separator butter, lib net. Picton." The maker is liable, not the storekeeper. Any shortweight pats he absorbs. The maker gets no record of price of disposal. Separator butter must be included in I the description, as if the purchaser can- { not see that the parcel contains butter. Seems as if one must guarantee it is i not grease—a difficulty in mid-summer! However, the tightening up is making a shortage in dairy butter or the homeseparated article at the stores. AUSTRALIA'S HARVEST. THE FIRST TRUCK. The first truck of new season's wheat, consisting of 92 bags, reached the Sydney market on October IS, from a fallowed patch of 12 acres at Boggabri. Owing to seasonal influences the grain ripened more rapidly than anticipated, j and it turned the scale at 64_lb to the bushel. Its arrival on the market indicated the advanced condition of the crops in the. northern wheat-growing areas. This season's wheat harvest is expected to be a record on for the Commonwealth. COMPANY AFFAIRS. UNITED INSURANCE CO. PAYS 10 PER CENT DIVIDEND. BONUS SHARES TO BE ALLOTTED. The statement of accounts of the United Insurance Company r<Jr the year ended September 30 shows total receipts or £579,659, against £581,673 in the previous, year. Fire, marine, and accident losses amounted to £131,018 against £101,464,! expenses or management to £49,494 against £50,992,. and agency expenses, reinsurances, etc., to £332,829 against! £337,670, the balance for the year being £66,320 against £91,545, the reduction' being due to heavier losses. The usual 10 per cent, dividend has been declared, and this absorbs £40,000, no additions are made to any or the reserves, but £25,000 is set aside l\. r special distribution, the board JsaVing ulclded, subject to conHrmatlon b#J shaixaolders, to issue- 5000- unallotted* snares, and to' distribute them in' the proportion or one new share fo* every 16 shares held,' and to utilise the special distribution or £25,000 to pay for those j shares. The paid-up capital or the com-1 pany is now £400,000. The reserve fund stands at £175,000, the reinsurance re- ; serve at £133,000, the reserve for equall- ' sation or dividends at £20,000, and the; reserve ror depreciation at £30,000. Sundry creditors account Tor £73,577, and the : contingent account stands at £55,080. The assets include: Deposits at interest, £141,550; Government securities, £479,-1 300; debentures, £55,412; mortgages, I £86,565; freehold property, £103,691; i cash, etc., £33,108; debtors, £23,156; and Interest accrued, £10,195. ANOTHER FARMERS' COMPANY. ~,«_. !■'>.'.•;',■* I ' i , J GOES INTO LIQUIDATION.

The Walkato Associated Farmers' Ltd.,! a firm that has been in existence about 18 months', trading in farming requirements, has gone Into voluntary liquidation. The conception was to take orders from rarmers and when these reached a certain bulk to purchase wholesale and distribute the goods at cost price plus sufficient to cover expenses of handling. Difficulties were, however, experienced owing to de-. lays in accumulaltng orders and in getting in cash, while the original principle of buying only according to requirements was departed from and large stocks were bought rorward, the company thus developing into an ordinary trading concern without capital. A - heavy purchase of manure an. overloaded market placed ' the company in a very difficult' position, and finally it was round necessary owing to failure to re-organise to- wind the concern up.: The company, which was limited by gua-' rantee, had a membership or 800 farmers, and its railure is attributed to laclr or capital and the consequent impossibility of caryins' on as an ordinary trading con- ■ cern.. By virtue of a guarantee, 800 members will each be called upon to pay £5 each. Mr. T. G. Reynolds has been appointed liquidator. BAY OF PLENTY BACON CO. A SMALL LOSS. The annual general' meeting or shareholders or the Bay of Plenty Bacon and Cold Storage Co. was held at Tauranga on Thursday, Mr. C. E. Macmlllan. M.P., presiding. A comparison with last year's accounts showed that over Id per lb more was paid Tor pork. The sales totalled £17.843 7/2. The operations for the year •esuited in the loss or £125 1/11. It was lecided that tne building and plant be leased Tor 12 months, the lease to be terminable after six months by three months' notice on either side. Messrs. N. Blomquist and E J. Swarm, the retiring directors, were re-elected unopposed. Mr. C. Lowe was re-appointed ' auditor. FEILDING FREEZING CO. In moving the adoption, of the annual report and balance-sheet at the annual meeting or the Feilding Farmers' Freezing Company at Feilding this arternoon. the chairman or directors (Mr. John Cobbe) I expressed regret that the result or the year's workings was not more satisfactory a surplus or only £488, which had been allotted to depreciation, being shown The ■ prospects .at the opening or the season seemed good. It had to be remebered, however, that light 'stock cost as much to kill as the heavier weights, but the amount received ror freezing was less. Had the condition or the stock been squil to that or the previous year, it would have made a difference or £1200 in the year's operations, besides throwing considerably more tallow. ' The unrortunate and utterly unreasonable trouble experienced with the butchers at the height or the season caused a considerable loss, as the heavy .overhead charges and a big share of the ordinary wages were going on all the time. The chairman detailed rully the proposal ror the merger of co-operative freezing works in New Zealand, and supported the scheme whole-heartedly. ['■