KIO KIO.

King Country Chronicle, Volume VII, Issue 569, 21 May 1913, Page 5

KIO KIO.

Own Correspondent,

The New Zealand Dairy Association held ita annual meeting for local shareholders in the Puketarata Hall laat Saturday. Messrs Spragge, Pacey and Bryant, of the board of directors, were present. The suppliers were in full force.

Mr Pacey, addressing the meeting, declared that the past season had been the second best since the birth of the association. Kio Kio suppliers deserved special congratulation, as their creamery had dealt with a greater increase in weight of milk than had any other creamery belonging to the association. This was an excellent recommendation for their district, but it reflected even greater credit on their energy and go-ahead methods. It was evident that they were doing their share in the work of the association; it remained for him to show the work of the management committee to have been equally excellent. Not one case, continued Mr Pacey, made up by any of their factories, had on inspection been worthy of complaint. This was a must satisfactory record for the season. Suppliers could tell hy that that their cream went into the best possible hands. The result was that the company was obtaining top prices both locally and on the Home markets. The price realised at Vancouver was in advance of either of the others. It was, however, still necessary for suppliers to exercise care to secure that cleanliness withI out which no good butter could be ' produced. Their association could not 1 afford to send out anything but the best since the Home market was glutted with margarine and second grade butter. There was, however, a steady demand for the best quality. He had to report that the local market was not so favourable as it had been during previous seasons. This was chiefly due to the action of a certain company in agreeing to sell its butter $d per lb cheaper than th 3 Dairy Association's price, no matter what the latter might quote. Thi3 policy had doubtless resulted in immediate profit to the company mentioned, but it was really short-sighted since such an action tended to reduce the price paid for butter fat throughout the province. But, perhaps this did not affect that body so nearly as it affected all really co - operative concerns. Though it called itself co-operative it wag virtually proprietary, for 924 per cent, of its shares were held by its promoters, and only the remaining 7J per cent, by actual suppliers. The manufacture of casein was to be tried in eight creameries in the vicinity of Hamilton, but not till the success of their product was assured would the association go to the expense of installingthe necessary machinery in outlying creameries. Mr Spragge, their managing director, was to make the trip to England shortly to arrange for the disposal of casein and to enquire into the handling of New Zealand butter.

The erection of a residence for the creamery manager was deferred until the appointment of a married man.

The meeting was closed with a hearty vote of thanks to the members of the board of directors for the able manner in which they had managed the affairs of the association.