FARMERS’ DAIRY UNION.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLVIII, Issue 237, 4 September 1928, Page 2

FARMERS’ DAIRY UNION.

ANNUAL REPORT. The annual report of tho New Zealand Farmers’ Dairy Union, Ltd., to bo submitted at the annual meeting of 'shareholders on September 24, skates that tho butter manufactured for” one year was 640 tons, 7cwt, 2 qrs and 81bs., including 26 tons of whey butter, an increase of 44 tons, or 71 per cent over last year. Of the total make, 530. tons were shipped to England on consignment, 38 tons sold f.0.b., and the balance sold in New Zealand. At the 'time of closing the books, there wore 3758 boxes afloat, and advices have since come to hand that this butter realised more than it was taken it in at, so that the surplus in the profit and loss account would be slightly better than that shown when final account sales came to hand. The directors recommend a further payment on butter-fat over the twelve months of 1 l-32d, and a dividend of 21 per cent on paid, up shares. As usual at this time of the year, a largo number of patrons had to seek financial assistance, and as this was one of the benefits tho company was pleased to be of service, in this direction. The cream grading had been carried out absolutely fearlessly arid conscientiously, in accordance with tho spirit of the Act, and as a result, tho average of finest was not high, the figures being;—Finest, 68.18 per cent.; first, 30.15 per cent; second, 1.67 per cent. However, to prove it was possible, with proper care and utensils, to produce top grade cream, it was a fact that they had numbers of large suppliers who consistently sent in all their cream in such good condition as to score “finest” every month. If suppliers would avail themselves of the Government inspector’s advice, which was alavays available, they would save the deductions imposed for inferior grades, and incidentally save the secretary an immense amount of extra and distasteful work. The supplier, manager and secretary would all benefit if the cream reached the factory in “finest” condition; an appeal to patrons io make renewed efforts to attain this object was again made. The cost of cream collection with all butter companies was a considerable item, but it gave an immense saving to tile farmer as it gave him more time on his farm, instead of spending hours on tho road delivering his own produce. Tho cost slightly lessened the actual cash lie received from the factory, but if liis time was reckoned at 2s an hour, lie could easily work out how much lie gained by the company picking up the cream. Tins was an aspect of the industry which farmers were apt to overlook and it was only fair that the point should be stressed ; indeed, some companies added this cost to the cash advance when computing tlieir average pay-out. The director who retires by rotation is Mr Robert Hudson Stallard, who, beinf eligible, offers himself for reelect Ton. The retiring auditor. Mr E. Grant Sim, also offers lnmself for re-election.