SOUTH TARANAKI DAIRYING.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVI, 19 August 1926, Page 10

SOUTH TARANAKI DAIRYING.

MANGATOIvI CO-OP. COMPANY. TWENTY-SIXTH ANNUAL MEETING.. Forty-nine -shareholders were in attendance at the twenty-sixth annual general meeting of the Mangatoki Cooperative Dairy Company, Ltd., held yesterday in the Mangatoki Hall. Mr 11. H. Free, chairman of directors, presided. In ’moving the adoption of the animal report (published oil August 10) the chairman gave an interesting review of several matters in connection with the affairs of the- company. “The unfavourable spring of 1925 liajs been responsible for -a- isliglit reduction in the amount of butter-fat supplied—about 27,0001 b, or two per cent,” said Mr Free in his openng remarks. “You will notice,” lie continued, “that the cost per lb butterfat to f. 0.1). ocean steamer is practical ly the same as last year, but there are items of expenditure that call for explanation. “Wages.—There has been an, increase of about £2OO in this item. During the year the employees of Taranaki factories, through their union, moved for an award by the Arbitration Court and, although their demands were not granted in full, they were granted an -award for the- remainder of the year, and the old system by which they were paid in cash and kind had to l>e discontinued and all wages paid in cash, and goods with which: they have to ho supplied ar© paid for at wholesale rates; -also they are granted three- weeks’ holidays on full pay in pi n op, of a fortnight. “Fuel and' Power.—There has been a si if lit reduction in the fuel account owin.o to electric power having been installed at- Matnpu and Mahoe. but the gross saving under the two heads has not been very great. However, we anticipate that when, the Tariki scheme is in full working order there will be a saving in cost in addition to the added convenience. “Cartage.—The increased cost under this heading is due to the fact that six months’ leave of absence was granted to the late Mr Pilkington. Through his death the company has lost the services of a very loyal servant. The extra- expenditure on the Benz lorry is wholly due to the cost of a new set of tyres. “Interest.—At tli'e beginning of the year you will remember that all produce was held up on account of the shipping strike, the first of our season’s make leaving these shores early in November, leaving large accumulations in store. Your directors made progress payments of Is 8d per ,1b butter-fat. To do this we had to draw against store warrants and) -pay bank rate of inte-ret for the -accommodation. During the latter part of the season, and before the accumulation- referred to m-eviouslv was cleared, there was- a further hold-up of produce on account of tbe Control Board retaining in- store in New Zealand a percentage of the make of the flush months, in order to ol 'eif shipments- over the whole season. The combination of these circumstances ’’s responsible for the- heavy increase in, the interest bill. DAIRY INSTRUCTION.

“During the year your board went very fully into the matter of farm dairy instruction, but before deciding the question the department was asked to undertake a. preliminary inspection cf the sheds of supplies and to report to the company. Your board gave this report its careful consideration, and came to the- conclusion that it -would be in the best interests of the company to have an instructor appointed. Under arrangements with the department and the ELtham Dairy Co. we have secured the services of Mr Picard. The liest service that suppliers can render the company is bv assisting Mi- Picard to carry out his duties, as by obtaining first-class milk over the .stage our manager and -staff will be in a better position to turn out a really first-class article. In this connection it may be well to mention here that it is the expressed intention of the Control Board to pay -a premium for superfine cheese. “At a meeting of the federation recently held in Hawera, at which Mr Singleton of the Dairy Division- spoke in favour of the action of the Control Board, a resolution was passed asking the hoard to investigate for a: whole reason the 'prices realised oil' the Lon-do-n market for each grade of cheese before instituting a superfine grade. Youi- directors are in accord with- this resolution. The board has now decided to adopt the three grades.

FINANCIAL POSITION IMPROVED. “Turning to the financial side of the company’s business, it is pleasing to record that the position of the company' lias improved, during the year by £1550. As stated in the balance-sheet, cheese suppliers have been p-aidi 1-s 7cl per lb over the whole season, with a further halfpenny shown as 'available on the valuation of cheese at the time of going to press-. Since then, 2052 cases white have been sold at an average price of 88s per ewt, and 598 cases coloured at about 82s 6d- per cwt. These prices show a considerable increase over the estimate, and since these sales have -been made cheese has moved up to 90s for white and 88s for coloured. If cheese holds in the region ■of these figures the company will pay over Is 8d per lb .butter-fat, for the season. There is still a balance of 2000 cases unsold.

‘•Quality has been well maintained, and of 45 brands of cheese passing through Patea, Mangatoki gained fourth place with an average of 92.687, Mahno ninth place with an average of 11.731. Matanu eleventh place with an average of 91.66, and Ivaponga fifteenth place with an average- of 91.588 points. There are 34 brands of butter graded at Patea. Mangatoki gained third place for creamery and thirteenth for whey. “With regard to the coming season, ill the plant is in thorough working n-der, and prospects, from the point of vei.w of production, appear good. As you, know, the marketing side of the business has been assumed by the Control Boaid, and, though I -am sure that each of us hopes- that the efforts of the board will prove an unqualified -success, at the present moment- your directors are rather in the dark, having had no indication- of what the rate of advance for the season is likely to be-.” Mr J. M. Gaten by seconded- the adoption of the report and balancesheet, which was carried without discussion.

Mr. F. K. Cameron stated that he had been advised on Tuesday evening, by letter from the Control Board, that it had been finally decided to adopt the three grades for dairy produce and pay out accordingly. It was also intended to advise dairy companies direct concerning the method to be adopted in distributing advance payments. OFFICERS. Messrs R. H. Free, Robert Law, and J. A. Kemp were re-elected unopposed to the board of directors. At a subsequent meeting of directors Mr. R. H. Free was reappointed chairman. Messrs Walkley and Cameron were reappointed as auditors.

The chairman’s honorarium and the directors’ fees were fixed on the same scale as previously. During the discussion Mr. R. McCormick proposed an amendment reducing the chairijian’s honorarium by £25, and that the directors’ fees be the same as previously. -Mr \Y. Marr seconded. ..Mr, E. M. C)usey asked if, now that the Control Board was in operation, nine directors would be required. He considered that their duties would be proportionately relieved. Mr. D. L. A. Astbury supported Mr. Oiusey and advanced the opinion that- the financial responsibility of the directors would be largely relieved. The chairman explained that the directorate would still have to conduct the company’s affairs much in the same manner as previously, and he did not think it would be advisable to reduce the strength of the directorate. Mr. Jacob Marx considered that a reduction of the chairman’s honorarium was not warranted. The amendment was lost, only eight votes supporting it. GENERAL.

A circular letter was received from the South Taranaki Federation of Dairy Factories with reference to the purchase of day-old, calves by the Patea Freezing Company, the secretary explaining that arrangements had been made to pick up calves at- convenient centres. Mr. D. L. A. Astbury took exception to the delay which at times occurred in the delivery of the calves ’at the works, and urged that arrangements should be made- for better transport. The chairman replied that he understood the matter was receiving attention with a view to having the animale delivered at the works the day they left the farm. A brief discussion which took place concerning pasteurisation was led by Mr. Jacob Marx, who favoured the principle: and Mr. J. Dawson, of the Dairy Division, delivered a short address in which he urged the more extensive adoption of herd testing. Votes of thanks to the chairman, directors, managers, secretary and staff concluded the meeting.