BALLANCE CO-OPERATIVE DAIRYCOMPANY.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 280, 19 August 1908, Page 3

BALLANCE CO-OPERATIVE DAIRYCOMPANY.

ANNUAL REPORT. The thirteenth annual report of'the Ballance Co-operative Dairy Company, -Limited, states that after somewhat protracted negotiations at the commencement of tho season a sale of the output was concluded at a price the directors had every reason to consider satisfactory at the time;' however, .the drought experienced throughout t]ie Dominion in the summer months caused, a serious' diminution of shipments, and- a corresponding rise in prices took place, so that unprecedented rates were .obtained for butter in the early part of the present year, for which reason it will be found that the aver-' a";e price's obtained by companies- that' consigned this season have been considerably higher than by those that sold their outputs. The advances for butter-fat have averaged 9.34 d. for tho season, being at 10d.- per lb. for the months of July, August, September and May ; 9sd. for-October, November, March and, April; 9d. for December, January and February, and lid. for June. Offing to. tho summer drought less milk was received at every statiuu, some 47 tons less butter being manufactured than last year/ This shortage raised the cost of manufacture.... The directors ,do not consider -it necessary •to appropriate any -amount for depreciation this year, considering the buildings and plant in l good order . and repair, arid propose to distribute the surplus amongst shareholders oil • their butter-fat, after appropriating tho usual ■ 5 per cent, dividend on paid-up capital. ' Messrs. H. Croad and J. T.-Marriott retire from tho directorate in accordance with the rules. Mr. Marriott does not offer himself for re-election. Mr; > Croad, being eligible, 'again offers liis_ services ; .to. -shareholders. Messrs. A. Eddie And J. Matthews are also notified as candidates for election. Tho directors desire to place on record their appreciation of the services of Mr. Marriott on . the board during air unbroken-series-of years, and since tho inception of the company; and regret his decision not to seek reelection. . .The following - statistical table • covering the operations of tho Company for the past five years should interest dairy farmers:— Year Butter fat Cost per.- Price lbsi lb. f.o.b. realised . d. d. 1902-3 ... 746,938 1.39' 10.12 1903-4 ... 798,955 1.33 8.89 1904-5 ... 853,984 1.34 0.64 1905-6 ... 858,186 L 35 10.38 1906-7 ...1,000,105 1.27 10.96 1907-8' ... 849,118 1.38 10.28