OPOURIAO SUPPLIERS

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 11, Issue 76, 5 September 1947, Page 6

OPOURIAO SUPPLIERS

ANNUAL MEETING HELD CHAIRMAN’S REPORT In his report at the annual meeting of suppliers to the Opouriao Dairy Company, the Chairman of Directors, Mr W. R. Richardson, stated as under:— I am very pleased to report that 'despite the fact that the season was not one of the best we have increased our output to approximately 100 tons above last year, when as we all remember we had a very severe drought. We have had a very good autumn which gave us a good growth of grass to carry through the winter months and we now need only a go'od spring to give us a flying start for the coming season and if this occurs we should increase our production still further, which would not only benefit ourselves but many others on the other side of the world.

Payout of 2/-

The season has resulted in a payout of 2/- per lb. butterfat to suppliers of first grade milk, the highest for very many years and should prove very satisfactory. Your directors are very pleased to see that both factories have improved their grades this year which reflects great credit on-the managers and especially so in the case of Mr Mill our Ruatoki Manager who has a lot of difficulties to contend with. Boiler Replacements Your directors regret report that the company has had to renew the boilers at both factories this year. We anticipated having to renew the Opouriao one as it was condemned at the end of last season and we only obtained a provisional licence from the inspector to operate at a reduced pressure for this season with the understanding that we replaced it. Early in the season the Ruatoki boiler developed a blister and the Inspector closed us down for a few days till he could make a thorough examination, after which he gave us a licence for the remainder of the season at a pressure not exceeding 601bs. and told us that'we would have to a get a new boiler. We have had some difficulty in securing these boilers as materials are in very short supply but finally we obtained them from Messrs. Seager Bros., of Auckland, and they are now being installed and will be running in a week or two.

Difficulties Overcome

During the shutdown at Ruatoki we had to, separate the milk and send the cream to the Rangitaiki factory but I am pleased to say that everything went off very well and though we sustained a loss it was .riot as bad as it might have been. You will notice that the repairs and maintenance account has been higher this year but it includes numerous items in connection with the installation of the new. boilers and will make the bill a little lighter for next season.

Tribute To Staff

I am pleased to say that we are starting the new season with practically the* same staff as last year and I desire on behalf of the directors to thank them for their good and faithful service' in the past and in this connection I would like to thank Mr K. N. Hannah, the Farm Instructor for the district for his good work on the farms and it is largely due to his efforts that our managers are improving their grades. Marketing Control There has been a big change in the control of the marketing of our produce this year and as you all know it will be managed in the future by a committee appointed equally by the Government and the industry who will negotiate with the British Government re the prices to be paid for our produce. This ought to please the large majority of our farmers who have been agitating for years-for more control by the producers over the sale of their* own products. Our best and practically our only customers are in dire straits just now and unless Britain can overcome her difficulties in the near future it must affect us very considerably. We are receiving big prices for our produce in the meantime, so it would seem a good proposition to try and increase production as much as possible and to reduce our liabilities as much as we can so that we can stand a reduction of our prices if and when it comes.

Chairman’s Long Service

Mr W. L. Richardson having sold his farm has resigned as a Director of the Company. Mr Richardson has

been a Director for 20 years—eight years of which as Chairman of Directors.

Mr J. S. Rae who was formerly factory manager of the Opouriao factory for seven years has also resigned. He has been a Director for 28 years. These two gentlemen received the best wishes of the Shareholders present and acknowledgment for their good and faithful service rendered to the company over a long period of years.

Messrs. E. H. Hill and J. Shaw were elected to fill the vacancies caused by these two resignations.