COOPERATIVE DAIRYING.

Hawera Star, Volume XLIX, 15 August 1929, Page 10

COOPERATIVE DAIRYING.

MANUTAHI COMPANY

SUCCESSFUL YEAR’S OPERATIONS.

Tiier© were many features oi' interest to suppliers of the Manutahi Dairy Company brought out in the report submitted to the annual meeting yesterday, when Mr S. C. Tonks presided over a good attendance of members.

The directors’ report stated that the advances paid on produce already disposed of provided for a payment of Is 7d per lb butter-fat supplied from August to December, and Is 6d for butter-fat supplied for the balance of the season. Owing to the sudden drop in the cheese market the directors considered -it advisable to hold from sale in London all cheese arriving on the market during the latter half of the season. Until this cheese was disposed of it would not be possible to state what further amount would be available for distribution to the suppliers. The statistics for the season, the figures for 1927-28 being given for purposes of comparison, were: Totals for season. —Pounds milk, 1927- 9,462,4-57 (decrease 675), 1928- 8,484,368 (decrease 978,089); pounds butter-fat, 381,786 (increase 5370), 350,224 (decrease 31,562) ; average test, 4.11, 4.12 Used for cheesemaking.—Pounds milk, 9,196,909, 8,383,049; pounds butterfat, 371,041, 345,808 ; pounds cheese made. 987.456 (440 tons 16cwt, 2qv 81b). 913.308 (407 tons 14cwt. Iqr24lb); pounds milk to pound cheese, 9.21. 9.177: pounds cheese to pound butterfat. 2.061. 2.64: cheese test. 4.03, 4,12,

Used for buttermaking.—Pounds milk. 265,548. 101.319; pounds butterfat. 10,745. 4415; pound's butter made. 12,593. 5256; test, 4.01, 4.30: overrun. 17.198, 19.048. CHAIRMAN’S REMARKS. In moving that the report and bal-ance-sheet be adopted, the chairman reviewed the year’s operations. He referred to the reduction in output as being largely due to the losing of one big herd. He also referred to the policy of open consignment on which that output had been based. This had resulted in a loss compared with selling, and at tbe present time, with cheese quoted at about 9Us, the prospects were not encouraging. Referring to- standardised cheese, he said that the directors had resolved not to go in for this form of manufacture, preferring to wait to see the issue of the year, and he personally was opposed to the idea of sending any but- full cream cheese to * the; Home market. However, the standardised produce had had a good re-1 ception, and had brought prices equal to the full cream cheese. 1

In regardi to waxing, the company had sent some waxed and some unwaxed cheese, and the result of the waxing had been a saving of 1 per cent to 1-i per cent, in shrinkage. The grading figures had been excellent, with an average all over of 92.6, and , only six or seven per cent of second grade*. The cost of manufacture had. been considerably reduced, and was down to a figure which they could not expect to lower, being at a fairly fine margin. The balance-sheet called, for little comment, but* he was glad to say that many items were lower than the previous year. The directors had, however, not written depreciation off contingent liabilti-es as bad* been the case in the past-, but would wait till the position was better. Some said wages were too- high, but they compared; very favourably with other factories, and he drew attention to the fact that the cost of concrete and repairing vats had been put in as wages,. and should have gone to repairs. He compared several items of expense with other factories, and showed that the cost per ton of cheese- was well down to the- average, while cost of manufacture was one of the lowest. Cartage had increased, hut this was due largely to the cost of sending some loads of produce bv road instead of by rail. The rate by rail was very I favourable. . The motion was seconded by Mr Macdonald and carried. j INSURANCE. I

Mr Wills drew attention to the lact that insurance companies would pay not the amount- of the policy in case of a lire, but only the value of j the buildings as they stood. , The chairman said tliis was so, and the company had as: much insurance as it could get. Mr Muggeridge suggested following the policy adopted by Alton -and having the buildings inspected every year by the company’s agents, setting forth the value of the buildings from year] to year. ‘ I The chairman, approved, and said; the company had a satisfactory position in this respect, 'because the amount- had been fixed and would be reviewed at- the end of the year. DIRECT OKS. Messrs ; S C. Tonks and S. E. Macdonald w-cre re-elected directors. M' 1 J- D. G. Thomson was reappointed auditor. The chairman’s honorarium and the directors’ fees were fixed as previously. In moving a vote of thanks, carried by acclamation, to- the manager (Mr C. McQueen) and staff, the chairman referred to the excellent way in which Die work at the factory was carried out, and it compared favourably with •'uiy other factory. A \ oto °* thanks to the chair conf ludcd the meeting.

OIMXAKE company. THE* ANNUAL ME PORT. Hie report to he present eel by the directors to the annual meeting <>f the. U'jHin.ake Company suites that 'the output c»t eheesc has inorea.s?<l by 71 tons oeut. The manufacture of Cutter was discontinued in August, and cream had boon sold to the P-ihama. Co-operative Ihi.iry Company. Ltd., the results ’being entirely satisfactory. The* eheo.se manufactured to the end of December «iis yah I on f.o.b. terms', the balance on open consignment. Aden me payments to suppliers per ib butter-fat- liavg* lie cm made as follow: —July Is sd, August to December inednsive Is Pel, .Ta.mra.ryrebruai'y Is Od. March to .Tune inclusive l l.» 4(1.

Elive directors and an auditor are to he elected at thy lannual nueeting. The season’s statistics are given ns Wows Milk 1027-28. 4.664,650 lbs, 1028-20, 5.067,525ib5: butter-fat. 190,544.7 ll>. 244.2681'b5; cheese, .501,545 lbs ; 561.219 lb- lbs nil'llk to 1 l.b cheese. 0.30. 0.024; lbs cheese to ib butter-fat, 2.632, 2.706 ; average test, 4.084, 4.000.