New Zealand Farmers' Dairy Union.

Evening Post, Volume L, Issue 53, 30 August 1895, Page 2

New Zealand Farmers' Dairy Union.

The second annual meeting of the New Zealand Farmers' Dairy Union was held in Thomas' Hall yesterday afternoon, and lasted nearly four hoars. Mr. F. B. Brown presided, and about 30 shareholders were present. At the ontset several shareholders complained of the absence of the balanoe.sheet. Tho Chairman explained that owing to the way in which the booka had been kept for the first six months, of the past year, it hod been found impossible to make up an aoourate statement of the oompany's true position. As goon as a balance-sheet could be prepared, the shareholders would be (jailed together again. The directors had no desire to shirk presenting a balancesheet. The amount of milk received during the last season was 2,001,285 gallons, for which they paid .£21,941, the average prioe being a little over 2|d per gallon. The output of butter manufactured was 917,0001b, or something like 400 tons, and the average prioe obtained waß 83a per owt. As to the future they were very hopeful. They would presently have to consider the advisableness of shipping Home consignments ajl the year round, in order to preserve their market. Though it might mean a loss during part pf the year, they would be compensated in the long run. They proposed offering 3d per gallon for milk supplied to the oreameries, whioh opened at the beginning of September, and he was pleased to announoe that their agents, Messrs. Nathan and Co., had agreed to reduoe their commission on Home shipments from 5 to 2fc per oent. He urged the importance of a more general use of aerators, and moved the adoption of the report. The report was adopted after muoh discussion. At the request of the meeting Messrs. L. J. and I). J. Nathan explained the relations existing between the Union and themselves. They understood there was tome dissatisfaction with the present arrangements. They were prepared to meet the Union m any way that was reasonable and fair, having confidence in its future. They were prepared to terminate the present agreement and enter into a new agreement reducing commission on Homo shipments to 21 per cent., the commission on local sales to remain ac the present figure of 5 per oeut. If the shareholders were dissatisfied with this, the firm was prepared to oanoel the agreement to-morrow on the Union paying "off its indebtedness to them. The meeting considered the Messrs. Nathan's offer to rednoo the commission satisfactory, and the agreement was reduoed to writing and signed by them. It was resolved to remove the registered ° ffi °B of the Union from Palmerston North to Wellington. Jfo reply to questions, the Chairman skid they had no intention of dosing the Featherston creamery, and those who had agreed to supply milk wonld be held to their agreement. The grader had not complained of the quality of the butter produoed. The olenoal work was now in the hands of Messrs. Badham ft Biss, Mr. Biss aotiug as Seoretary to the Union. Only the oreameries starting on the Ist September would reoeive 3d ; PW gallon for milk, and any starting after the beginning of the month would only Votes of thanks were passed to Messrs. Nathan for the information they had given the shareholders, and the meeting' at 6 20 adjourned until the balance-sheet was ready.