DAIRY FACTORIES.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 19 August 1924, Page 7

DAIRY FACTORIES.

OPUA IIOAD COALPAXY. There was a fair attendance of shareholdei s at the annual, meeting of the Opua. Road Co-op. Dairy Company, held on the 12th inst., Mr T. H. H. Sinclair presiding. .Jn moving the adoption of the report and balance-sheet, the chairman said that the only cause for congratulation was a. slight increase m the output and the continued good results obtained by the manager (Mr j kuetalla) and staff. The season had proved a disappointing one for cheese. The, early shipments met a good market, .ranging np to 112 s per cwt. The market suddenly fell, and went as low as 80s in a few weeks. The pnnciple of withholding cheese from the market had been adopted by several companies, but Opua had continued to meet the ruling prices, and the results obtained had justified this action. The average price received for consignments to date averaged about 92s gross, "hich in view of the circumstances which prevailed is a most satisfactory return. At the present moment a better tone prevailed on the London market, and prices were advancing. He expressed the opinion that the disposal of cheese still held would have a depiessing effect on the early season’s prices, it was satisfactory to find a slight reduction in the manufacturing and overhead charges, but the total costs were still fairly heavy. It is hoped, however, that further reductions will be effected during the- coming season. The installation of an electric motor, which had been running since early in November, practically two- thirds of the season, had shown a mg saving m fuel. The cost of fuel and running expenses of motor .resulted in a saving of .4:83, which almost covers the cost of motor installation and fittings incidental thereto. The extreme weather conditions experienced during the past summer militated against a nigh ieturn of cheese to milk, nevertheless the manager had been successful in maintaining the quality of the cheese. It is most essential that suppliers should do their utmost in supPM'ing a high quality milk, as the results obtained are going to be felt, not by the manager only, but by the suppliers themselves. The proposal to raise the standard of first- grade to 90 points, if given effect to, will prove a hardship on cheese producers. In Opua s case it would certainly entail the installation of a regenerating plant at a cost of between £4OO and £ooo, and entail additional working costs in the consumption of fuel, etc. It is also more than doubtful if any compensation by better prices can be obtained for the pasteurised against the non-pasteurised cheese. For the purposes of balance, cheese unsold and on hand totalling 468 crates, representmg slightly more than one quarter of the season’s export, was valued at a conservative figure, and on final realisation should show a substantial surplus still to divide. They confidently expected to bring the, payment over the season to at least Is 4£d, and with luck Is od per lb for butter-fat. The installation of the whey butter plant two years ago has proved a. financial success. Gross proceeds for whey butter over that period total £I3BO, and after allowing working expenses the nett .return has already reimbursed the shareholders lor that outlay. The chairman expressed thanks to the secretary, manager and staff fd rtheir loyal assistance during the season. The motion was seoonded by Mr G. Feaver and carried without discussion. The election of directors resulted in the return of Messrs T. H. H. Sinclair, G. leaver, W. McNeil, S. It. Feaver and A. Callander. Mr H. 0. Newman was re-elected auditor.

The manager was granted a bonus of £3O in recognition of his excellent services. An honorarium of £2O was voted to the chairman. The chairman expressed appreciation of the valuable services rendered to the company by Mr Pill, the retiring director. At a subsequent meeting of directors Mr T. H. H. Sinclair was reelected chairman. ALTON ANNUAL REPORT. The fifteenth annual report, to be presented at the animal meeting of the Alton Co-operative Dairy Co. states: — The surpluses that we*e available for the 1922-23 season allowed the payment lor that season to be brought up to the very astisfactoiv figure ol Is URd i>e.r lb butter-fat. The unsold cheese, at 30th June, 1924, is approximately IQiM.) crates. This has been taken into the balance-sheet at (Rd per'-lb f. 0.0., and when this is all cleared a considerable surplus will be available beyond the amount showing; in the balance-sheet. Payments for the past season have been hade at Is 4d per lb butter-fat for season to March 31, and Is per lb butter-fat for the .remainder of the season. it is proposed that £lO be placed to repainting reserve, that 5 per cent, be paid on paid-up' share capital, that April. May and June payments be brought up to Is 4d per lb butter-fat, and that the balance remaining in profit and loss account, together with, any further surpluses, be paid out, pro lata, on butter-fat supplied for the whole season. The store account shows a profit of £640 19s 2d; this is considered very satisfactory. It is proposed to can - vtliis forward, and so place the store account in a better position. The retiring directors are Messrs A. R. Muggeridge, T. Foreman and H. A. .Sutherland, who retire by rotation and are eligible for re-elec-tion. You will require to appoint n.n auditor. Mr J. D. G. Thomson again offers his services. Summary for season 1923-1924: Total amount milk. 11.941.3521b5; total amount fat, 470,126.1; gross weight cheese. 1.212.967- weight cheese, less 2.1 per cent, 1,180,300; creamery butter made, 23,300; total whey butter, 626 boxes.

Milk used for cheese - making.— Pounds milk, 11,443,618; pounds fat, 466,939.8; cheese made nett, 1,180,300; pounds milk to lib cheese, 9.65; pounds cheese from 11b fat, 2.588; average test, 3.987.

Milk used for butter-making—Pounds milk, 497,734; pounds fat. 20,185.3; butter made, 23.300; butter boxed with whey. 8.721; butted pounded 12,395 (works 39 boxes), total 14,579; ovetruii butter to lb fat, 1.1543; average grade for cheese, 91.82; average grade for whey batter. 88.45.