LOOKING BACKWARD, ALSO AHEAD.

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 140, 10 December 1926, Page 9

LOOKING BACKWARD, ALSO AHEAD.

A glimpse of some of the changes that have occurred in the eTolution of the dairying Industry was provided by Mr. G. Marah, chairman of diretcors of the Slangorei Co-operative Dairy Company, at the opening of a new fac-? Tory built by this Taranaki company. Mr. Marsh stated that the company was formed in 1803 and that "the quantity of milk received during that year was 495,903 gallons, from which 99 tons of butter were manufactured. The amount distributed amongst shareholders was £6088 Ts, making the average rate of payment for the milk as received two and 71----75ths of a penny per gallon. "During the year ended 30th June, 1926, the cream received by us was 2,380,5771b, which would be equivalent to the same quantity of gallons of milk, and the amount distributed amongst suppliers was £05,091 17s Sd, making the average rate of payment Is 6Ud per lb butter-fat. "Soon after the company commenced operations the directors began to erect and equip creameries on several of the main arterial roads and for many years seven skimming stations wero run. In later years this system was superseded by home separation, and to-day all our creameries have disappeared, the whole supply of.; the company being .collected by motor-lorries, the result being that, whilst we are now handling double-the quantity of cream in comparison to the time wlien the whole milk system was in vogue, we have a staff, inclusive of four lorry drivers, of lour m "During the past year our output was 461 tons of butter, and during the. current year It will probably exceed 500 tons considerably, und I feel sure that in the. courso of the next few years the factor.v _ will be_ working tOAIr 3 c" E. Be'llringer, M.P., referring to the scale'of tho factory and the directors; provision for extension, said that competition had to be met by Increased production as weil as by a higher grade article. The directors had realised this and provided facilities for any extensions that might be required.

TARIXGAMUTU TOTARA SAWMILLS, ITD. Though "trading' operations .in all • departments proved reasonably successful lor the rear ended 31st October, 1638, notwithstanding "severe competition occasioned by heavy importations of foreign timbers," and though aflT writing down various asset 3by £4491 17s lOd the year shows a net profit of £5036 19s 9d yet tlio extensive flood damage during the winter of 1025 has proved to be too severe a handicap to be overcome by one year's operations, and at Slat October a debit balance of £5379 5s 7d remained iv the profit and lops ; appropriation account; as compared a debit or £7693 7s Id in that account when the year began. Such is the burden of the report anil balance-sheet of the directors of Taringamutu Totara Sawmills, ltd., for the yew mentioned. The gross profits consisted of trading profits at Tartngamutu £ 12,84? 10s 3d, at Palmerston North £2009 12s Bd, at farm £1275 Ss, these three totalling £16,222 10s lid; also tramrevenue £608 12a Od; a grand total of £1fi,921 3s Sd. As io the farming side of the operations, "tho'farm property has justified the expenditure Incurred In development, and is.looking well: stock, has come through the winter in excellent condition, while a satisfactory percentage of lambs has again resulted." As to the timber: "After tho holidays operations in the Haugangnroa Block, which were interrupted by the 1925 floods, will be resumed; This block: contains a considerable quantity of excellent timber, comprising totara, matai, and

rlmu, which, under reasonable mark* conditions, should be worked at a considerable profit."

The profit and loss account shows tIM abovementioned profit of £5038 17s 9d after writing off the following amounts: —Cutting rights, £2000; tram plant, £1000; Hauhangaroa tram, £1000; locomotives. £86 Is 2d; horses, £40; mill and bush plant and buildings, £342 3s 10d; bad debta, £23 12s lOd; total, 54491 17s lOd. Flood damage (lesi £4500 from the reserve for flood damage) now appears in this account at £1364 14s 2d. , n Al^ n3 the assets figure fixed assets £59,891 12s 9d (including £18,419 0s 9d for Puketapu freehold and Improvements, £17,524 4s Id for tram plant, £10,021 4g 2d for Hauhangaroa tram, £8800 for cutting rights, and £6501 13s for mill and bush plant and buildings); advances to subsidiary company, £11,828 13s 2dpfid% S'c^JP'u £11' 938 4* cd (comprising ±.0143 4s 6d timber and stores and £2795 Uve

"All the company's plant has been well maintained and Is in excellent condition." Kose almaa of directors is Mr, W. H.