CENTRAL DAIRY FACTORY.

Press, Volume LV, Issue 10146, 20 September 1898, Page 3

CENTRAL DAIRY FACTORY.

The sixth annual meeting of the Canterbury Co-operative Central Dairy Factory Company was held at the Chamber of Commerce on Saturday afternoon, when there were about sixty shareholders present and Mr J. Barnett, chairman of directors, presided. An apology was received for the absence of Mr C. Sanderson, a director, who was prevented by an accident from being present. The Chairman, in moving the adoption of the report and balance sheet, referred to the death of Mr Boag, one of their directors. He pointed out that the suppliers had been paid at the rate of -Jd per lb more during the summer months for butter than during the previous season. It was necessary to keep up the standard of quality of their butter, and it was satisfactory to know that tbe grade this year had been higher than last year. He referred to the shipment of 200 boxes of butter that had been consigned as an experiment, which had turned out very well, and mentioned that a cottage had been built at the factory, as it was found necessary lo have someone living on the premises. The Rangiora butter factory had been purchased, and it would be worked as a creamery. The retail milk business was extending, and he anticipated that it would grow into a profitable branch. The motion was seconded by Mr J. Rennie.

A number of questions were asked by shareholders and answered by the chairman.

A lengthy discussion took place on the question raised by Mr Pritchard as to the bonus to suppliers being increased, while no increase had been made in the dividend. He considered that shareholders who were not suppliers should be considered.

The Chairman replied that without the assistance of the suppliers there would be no dividend at all.

Tlie system of supplying frozen butter instead of fresh to the milk suppliers was adversely commented upon ; Mr T. B. Howson, however, expressing the opinion that they ought to use the frozen butter themselves and supply the fresh to their customers.

The Chairman said that it probably would not occur again as there was not likely to be such a scarcity of buiter as there had been this winter.

Mr Howson recommended that the directors should supply the creamery managers with appliances for repairing suppliers' milk cans.

Mr Pritchard moved—" That in all future reports the directors should arrange the increase of the dividend to shareholders on the same basis as the bonus to suppliers." Mr C. S. Howell seconded the motion, which was put and lost, and the report and balance-sheet were adopted.

Messrs H. Pannett, J. Barrett, P. Wright and E. J. Palmer were elected directors and Mr R. Hill Fisher was appointed auditor at a remuneration of 25 guineas.

Mr Howson moved a vote of thanks to the employees of the company, and sugguested that a bonus be given them at the end of the year.

Mr C. J. Luxton seconded the motion, which wa3 agreed to, and a vote of thanks to the directors, proposed by Mr Tollerton and seconded by Mr Wynn-Williams, closed the meeting. •