ARARATA DAIRY COMPANY.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 9 August 1924, Page 3

ARARATA DAIRY COMPANY.

ANNUAL MEETING. The fifteenth annual meeting of the Ararata Co-operative Dairy Co., Ltd., was held in the' secretary’s office today, when Mr T. A. Winks (chairman) presided over an attendance of a limit 20 shareholders. The fifteenth annual report stated: The oast season, like the previous one, has been one of anxiety to the di rectors on account of the fluctuating mature of the market in England. They gave full discretionary powers to Messrs H. A:' Lane and Co., Ltd., to dispose of our produce after its arrival at Home, and that firm continued a policy of selling, with the result that we have received to date a pay-out of Is 4d per lb biitter-fat. Providing the market maintains its present value, we have no doubt that a pay-out of Is 6d or more can be realised- over the season.

Statistics for season attached to the report showed: Pounds of milk received, 6,322,968; pounds of butter-fat, 241,204; average test, 3.81; total charges (including repairs and’ depreciation) to f.o.b. ocean steamer on butter and cheese at per lb butter-fat, 4.8 d. Used for cheesemaking: Pounds of milk, 5,929,772; pounds of butterfat, 224,794; pounds of cheese made. •597,8-04: pounds of milk to lib cheese, 9.919; pounds of cheese from lib fat, 2.659; average test, 3.79. Used for buttermaking: Pounds of milk, 393,196; pounds of butter-fat, 16,410; pounds of butter made, 19,288; butter made from each lb of butter-fat used in manufacture of butter, 1.1753; average test. 4.17.

The chairman, in moving the adoption of the annual report and balanees sheefc, said lie wanted in the first place to mention the fact that Ihe company had changed their consigning ftr.m, but- it yet remained to be seen whether the change was in the right- direction. The markets during the year had had given the directors considerable concern as the result of their fluctuating nature. There were many offers about at the beginning of the season, but, as they knew, it had always been the company’s policy to consign. They were advised to consign, and that advice was followed out. However, the year had been the most trying in his experience. Not only had the markets at Home been affected by the supply, but they had been affected by the irregular shipping. Had there been a more regular shipping service the market would have been more stable, and they would have received more even prices. There came a time when the baits were.held up and the market flew high, but later numbers of boats ar-’ rived within a short time, with the result that within a week 35,000 crates arrived in England. None had sufficient power with the shipping companies to sav when the boats should go and when they should not go. A contract was drawn up between the N.D.A. and the shipping companies, but, in his opinion, it was not worth the paper it, was written on, as it contained no penal clause. He believed that the Dairy Control Board would he able to manage that part of the business better. They would be" in a position to make arrangements fc boats to leave more regularly. Speaking with regard to the quality of the company’s produce, the chairman said that right through the season thev had had complaints, more particularly in regard to butter, as cheese had improved towards the' end of the season. He did not know what the reason of it was, but they would have to do better. Possibly the cause was one which, could not be discovered by the ordinary layman, but would have to be solved by a laboratory. In some companies a good deal of trouble was caused bv the rivalry between factory managers to increase their yield. Theer was a move afoot at present to increase grading points for first grade, from 88 to 90. He noticed that most oT the factories that- were objecting had quite a lot of second gfade; cheese last year. The company had 'formed a testing association last year, but- the season had not been a good one in which to make the experiment. However, those, who had carried it on fco the end of the season had been benefited by it. Concerning the Dairy Control Board the. chairman said that that body was not rushing into anything, but he believed that eventually they would be of great service to the industry. He had been disappointed, however, that they had not yet tackled the question of insurance.

Since the last annual meeting a federation of dairy companies in South Taranaki had been formed. This had been talked of for many years, and the questions of the establishment of a lalwratory anfl uniformity of articles of association could now lie considered. At the last meeting it had been agreed that the company should work in with two other companies in the appointment of a dairy inspector, but as one of the other companies had not been prepared to become a party to the arrangement fit had fallen through. However, that company was now prepared to come in. so the matter would be taken up again. The appointment of a daily inspector by other companies had not caused trouble with the suppliers, as it had been found that the inspector was more of an instructor than anything else. Coming to the directors’ report, the chairman apologised for a mistake that had occurred in ' estimating the final pay-out. The report stated Is 6d when it should have stated Is sd. Messrs T. A. AA’inks J Grant, and R-. Corkill were elected to fill the three vacancies on the directorate.

Mr. H. A. Lennon, in conjunction with Air AY. J. Tristram, was appointed auditor for the forthcoming year at a remuneration of 10 guineas. Directors’ lees were fixed at the same as last year—lss per meeting, and the chairman’s honorarium was fixed at £2O.