KUKU-MANAKAU DAIRY

Evening Post, Volume CXXVIII, Issue 45, 22 August 1939, Page 7

KUKU-MANAKAU DAIRY

MILK FOR WELLINGTON

The annual meeting of the KukuManakau Co-op. Dairy Co. was held yesterday, Mr. M. F. Miles presiding. Prior to the commencement of the ordinary business a motion of sympathy with farmers who suffered in the recent flood was carried. The chairman said that every box of butter the factory had manufactured had received the premium. He referred to co-operation with the Levin factory in having their own veterinary surgeon, which would be of inestimable benefit to the farmers. The cost would be about £175 per annum. He paid a tribute to the excellent work of new secretary, Mr. H. B. Burdekin, and the new manager, Mr. E. Findsen. The pay-out for last sea-son-was 16.888 d per lb, as against 15.33 d for the previous season. Rising costs had more than equalled the rise in pay-out. Production for the year was 677£ tons, a drop of 130 tons on the previous year. This was due to the dry season, the increased demand for milk from Wellington, and the decrease in suppliers. The number of suppliers had decreased by 48. Butter made was 3,209,6151b, against 3,695,5061b for 1937-38; £51,035 had been received for! export butter and £47,168 for local sales. Wages and materials showed a considerable increase. The directors (Messrs. Miles, Bertram, Hogg, Hunter, Kilsby, and Hooper) were re-elected. Mr. F. H. Monk, a former director, had ceased to be a supplier. Mr. R. L. Robinson, Manakau, was elected to fill the vacant position. Mr. W. R. Birnie, of Palmerston North, was elected auditor. The increasing demand for winter milk for Wellington was discussed, and it was felt that a sharp eye needed to be kept on the price. One speaker mentioned that the arbitrary fixing of the price for butterfat, against the recommendations ol the committee of experts, by the Minister, the Hon. W. Nash, had cut the dairy farmer by £40 on a herd of 40 cows, and if the dairy farmers were not alive to it they might be hit similarly in the supply of milk to Wellington. The newly-appointed veterinary surgeon, Mr. McGregor, was introduced to the meeting. It is probable that Te Horo and Paraparaumu will join the veterinary scheme. It. was decided that the company should pay the social security tax on the directors' honorarium.

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