CO-OPERATIVE DAIRYING.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVI, 15 August 1927, Page 10

CO-OPERATIVE DAIRYING.

WHEXUAKURA COMPANY

ANNUAL MEETING

The annual meeting of the AVhenuakura Co-operative Dairy Company was held in the, hall on Saturday. Mr. IV. H. Southeombe presided over an attendance of about 50 shareholders.

In moving the adoption of the 26th annual report (published on August 10) and balance-sheet, the chairman congratulated the suppliers on increased production. “The past season has been a good one so far as production is concerned,” he stated, “ami has to some extent assisted suppliers returns in this year of poor prices for butter and cheese. Your produce being out of control last season enabled a quick clearance, and consequently less shinkage and a saving in storage and interest resulted.” During the season 9538 crates of cheese were graded, and of these 2748 were finest, 6636 first grade, and 154 second. A total of 3646 boxes of creamery butter had been graded, and of chose 2615 were classed finest, 1025 first and two second grade. In addition 12 tons of whey butter had been manufactured. It was intended to instal a waxing plant in which to dip the cheese, and this was expected to reduce shrinkage by about one per cent. It had also been decided to separate at the branch factory.

The* prospects of the comping season are much brighter, ancl 1 would ask the suppliers for a little more cooperation. in order that an even better article may be produced.” said the chairman, who expressed appreciation to his cio-dli rectors, manager, secretary and staff for their valuable assistance.

Mr. F. Parsons seconded the motion for adoption. In reply to a question, the secretary (Mr. F. AY. Hnmerton) stated that the liability to Messrs Lovell and Cluistmas had been reduced to £3860. In reply to Mr. Chatterton, the secretary stated that the farm inspector's charges had amounted to £ll4. An amount of £52 appeared on the bal-ance-sheet, as the final account had not then been received, but the remaining £62 would be taken from this \ear’s appropriation account. The matter of attracting an increased supp.y of cream was stressed by various shareholders, who urged this with the object of reducing the costs. Mr. Murphy said that after careful shoulcl investigate the costs of the manufacure of butter, which were now a tout fourpence per pound. The overhead charges were far too high, being about three-farthings heavier than in most cases. As a result of not being under the jurisdiction of the Control Board, the pay-out would be about a penny per lb less on butter and about twopence on cheese. Mr. hover said that after careful computation he had found that the secretary's foiecasts as to the further payments were correct, and that the pay-out would not he so low as Mr. Bover indicated.

Jh reply to Mr. Boyer, the chairman stated that the butter up to October had been sold at Is sd. Air. Boyer expressed regret at this, and said that one South Island company had sold its output to December at Is 7d.

A shareholder: “They are very luekv.”

Air. Boyer questioned the validity of the new articles adopted last year.

Tut- secretary assured tfie meeting that all formalities had been complied with. Air. Donald: “Would it not he possible to manufacture butter at only one of the branch factories, and so save overhead charges.” Mr. I’arsons said that the matter would lie /very difficult to arrange, as it would necessitate the transportation of all butter-making plant to one tar toi v

Tne report and balance-sheet were adopted. Tlie election ol directors to nil vacancies caused by the retirement of Alesssr F. Eesley and F. Parsons resulted in Messrs F. Parsons and Murphy being elected. Mr. Beslev did not seek re-election. The directorate ior the current period will consequently be Messrs \\. H. Southcombe, P. Milne. A. bourke, W. Back, It. Honevfield, F. Parsons, and Murphy. Mr. J. 1). (■. Thomson was re-elected auditor at the same remuneration as previously. .Mr. Back stated that the company had been approached regarding the installation of a petrol bowser. —It was unanimously decided to reject the proposal. Several shareholders spoke in favour of a discontinuance of the agreement ior the. attendance of the dairy inspector, the opinion being expressed that conditions hud now so much inipro, ed that his services had become unnecessary and the expense was not warranted. —It was decided, on the motion of Messrs W. Hotter and J. Smith, to give notice for the termination of the agreement. Mr. Parsons expressed the opinion that since the farm inspectors’ services were being dispensed with some system of grading milk for cheesemaking should be adopted. This was decided upon, the directors being authorised to make arrangements for a differential payment for the various grades of milk. Votes of appreciation were accorded to the directors, to Mr. Besley, who retired from the hoard, and to the manager and staff. At a subsequent meeting of directors Mr Parsons was elected chairman.

OPf'NAKEI COMPANY. AN X P A.L (J EN.EIR AL M EKTI NO. There was -a good attendance of suppliers at the 'annual general meeung of the Op in take Co-operative Dairy Earito 1 y Company on .Settui day. Mr. It. G. Bayiliss, chairman of directors, presiding. The annual 'report stated that advance ipayments hail 'been made as iol!:,ws : Alilk suppliers, duly l-y ml, Aug-a-i I - -lil, September Is 2d, October Is. November Is 2d. December and January Is .2(1, February, March and A-pri'l Is, ‘May and June Is 3d; cream suppliers, August Is (id,. September Is 3d, October Is 2.pi, November, December ami .Inn uarv lis 3d, February, March *ud April Is, May and June Is 3d, plus .Vd per lib for superfine grade, and cose of m-rria.se to factory. Cheese exported had been estimated to return 'd r/?'- lb f.o.b. The balance standing to credit of the appropriation account would be disbursed as. further rcceintr came to hand. Ait the close of the •sc-aisi >ii Air AY. (). Wcibibv resigned as manager and Air. 71. AY. J?instil had been appointed. 'Statistics were given as follow: Cheese-making.- Milk 3,6(59,72711); fat, 142,7121 b; average test, 3.889; cheese, 375,23 >lib; milk to lib cheese, 9.7711 b ; chees'O txj- lib fat, 2.6281 b.

Butte••-.making.—Milk. 122.2971 b ; tat 7.638.5!b ; emaim. 1.07, 6271 b; fa t in cream, 38,758.41 b ; total fat, 46,398.91 b ;

’ butter manufactured, 55,2711 b j overrun, 20,07; average test, milk, _4.19; over-run, test cream 36.01; 364.51 b of butter-fat received for butter-making was sold. , The weight of creamery butter made front each lb of fat was 1.20071 b, and the weight of cheese mlade from each lb was 2.6211 b. In moving the adoption oi the report the chairman, congratulating suppliers on a good season, said that as this was the first .season in which the factorv had made cheese . comparisons could not be made. Although the output had been nearly 20 per cent in advance of last year, the prices had been very unfavourable, and had inflicted hardship on farmers. To counteract this the directors had agreed, to pay out- as high an advance as the position would permit. The payments had been varied several times owing to fluctuations in the market, but the average to date would work out at Is 1.63 d for milk received, and realisation of stocks held would bring it up to Is 3.33 d. A resolution was made to pay out more to cream suppliers, bringing the average to Is 4.13 d for superfine and a halfpenny less for first grade, and these would lie paid as received from the Control Board. The estimates of cheese unrealised were conservative, and the improved prices realised would mean a surplus on estimates. The cheese ratio, 2.628, was not as high as could be desired, but shrinkage had been very low, they would be glad to know. The average on the first seven shipments was actually three-quarter per cent below the standard of 2) per cent, and this would to some extent compensate for the low ratio. If the low average of shrinkage were continued there would be a considerable addition to the realisations. The amount of £BOO, advances on two shipments at date of balance, had come to hand, and had reduced the bank overdraft. The company had taken up shares in the Taranaki Producers’ Works at less than face values, and the difference had. been added to reserve. There had been considerable reductions in freight charges, and costs to f.o.b. were 3.46 d, excluding depreciation. They hoped to have more economical working in the coming season. and looked for an increased output. Prospects were good, and returns were expected to be much increased. The chairman urged all to supply a first-class article, and so help the manager in making the best cheese and butter, and in addition to help themselves by getting better returns. It was resolved to stop the supply of hot- water for the season, because the directors considered suppliers should provide their own boilers and thus get more hygienic conditions. During the cheese-making period suppliers must have the milk at the faetorv bv 9 n.m. The motion was seconded by Air. Newman and carried. Election of officers resulted as follows: Diretcors. Messrs. E. ft Bavliss. W. L. F. Chambers, -T. S. Hickey, C. •T. Griffiths, and ,T. Humphries, the retiring directors, were re-elected unopposed. Auditor : Afr. H. J. Newman was reappointed at the same fee of £lO 10s.

The chairman’s honorarium was fixed at £2O.

Votes of thanks to directors, manager and staff, the secretary, and the Press concluded the meeting.

At the first meeting of directors, Mr C. J. Griffiths was elected chairman.