RECORDS BROKEN

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume 58, Issue 4168, 3 August 1949, Page 11

RECORDS BROKEN

MERCURY BAY FACTORY OUTPUT EXCEEDS 511 TONS In making his report to the thirtyninth annual meeting of the Mercury Bay Co-operative Dairy Company Limited, held recently at Whitianga, the chairman of directors, Mr H. T. Robinson, said:— “ Your directors have pleasure in presenting herewith the thirty-ninth annual report and balance sheet for your consideration. It is gratifying once again to advise that the factory production has broken all previous record®, and for the first time in the history of the company, has produced over 500 tons of butter. The actual production is 511 tons 10 cwt. 3 qrs. 18 lb., an increase over the previous record of 26 tons 13 cwt. 2 qrs. 25 lb. During the last ten yoai*s of production, the company outpp| has increased by over 50 per cent. “ The grading of cream for the 1948-49 season was: Finest 67.212, per cent., first grade 29.434 per cent., second grade 0.354 per cent. The average grade of butter was 93.343. “ The estimated payout for the 1947-48 season as set out in last year’s report was 25.8952 d per pound of butterfat, and this was the actual payout.

“ For the season just concluded, the average advance for all grades was 23.7901 d per pound of butterfat, and the surplus to accrue on the disposal of unsold produce is estimated to produce 2.8257 d, making a total average payment of 26.6158 d. Stocks unsold as at May 31, 1949, were valued a* the N.Z. Dairy Products Marketing Commission’s ruling prices.

“As anticipated with increased costs, total cost to the company] per pound of butterfat was 3.470 d compared with 3.234 d for the previous season.

“ Obituary — The late Mr William Hamilton — With great regret, your directors have to record the passing of one of the pioneers of this company. The late Mr Hamilton was one of the prime movers in the formation of the company, was one of the signatories to the memorandum of association in 1911, and from that time until a few months before his passing, with the exception of a short period during which he was absent from New -Zealand, was a director and for many years your chairman. No one has done more for the company than he—he never spared himself whenever the company’s interest or progress was at stake, and our sympathy is extended to his bertaved ones. On his resignation from the directorate, his son, Mr W. A. Hamilton, was appointed in his place. Statistics The following statistical information was supplied in the report to shareholders of the company, the figures for the previous year being given in parentheses:—

Payout previous year per pound of butterfat (season average), 25.8952 d; pdyout current year per pound butterfat, advance, 23.7901 d; estimated surplus, 2.8257 d; number of suppliers (80), 83; pounds of cream received (2,243,912), 2,331,7661; pounds of butterfat. from cream (887,692.1), 939,448.6; average butterfat test of cream (39.604), 40.289; total charges including repairs and depreciation up to f.o.b. at per pound of butterfat (3.234), 3.470; total pounds of butterfat used for creamery butter making (887,692.1), 939,448.6; pounds of creamery butter made (1,086,085), 1,145,862; over-run creamery butter made (22.349), 21.971; average grade of butter (93.156), 93.343; cream grade percentages, finest (64.63), 67.212; first (32.13), 29.434; second, (3.24), 3.354; cost of manufacture per pound of butf-er (1.203), 1.393; cost of cream collection per pound •of butterfat (.664), .6401.