DAIRY COMPANIES REPORT PROGRESS

Manawatu Times, Volume LIV, Issue 6627, 14 August 1931, Page 9

DAIRY COMPANIES REPORT PROGRESS

RONGOTEA UNHOLDS QUALITY.

The following report is to be submitted to the annual meeting of the Eonigotea Dairy Company at Rongotea next week: — Tho output for the season reached 813 tons Lkwt. 2qrs., being an increase on the previous year of 1G.17 per cent., and given favourable climatic conditions and with the new supply now 1 coming in, it is anticipated there will i bo a further increase this coming season. The past season was very favourable for production, the peak being reached in November and being maintained until well in December. Unfortunately values for dairy produce throughout the past year have been exceptionally low, but tho slump in values is "world wide and is not confined to out products alone. What the future holds for the farmer of this Dominion whether lie is producing butter, cheese, wool, eggs, or any other commodity, it is at present beyond human capacity to forecast, still, every cloud has its silver lining. The quality of our butter has been fully maintained and Rongotea is again third on the grading list at Wanganui with an average grade of 94.63.. The quality of the cream has improved considerably as borne out by tho grading percentages given below. Satisfactory business lias been done in assisting suppliers with manures, and they are again reminded that the company can do this business for them at the cheapest possible cost, cash or otherwise. The National Dairy Association’s calf pool is again in operation this year, and suppliers are recommended to support this co-operative movement, the profits of which arc returned to you by way of bonus. The average advance for the season has been 10.743. per lb. over all grades, and following the custom of past years and to co-operatively equalise the payout, the directors now propose to make a further payment on tho November butterfat of Id per lb, and a bonus of 1.25 d per lb on all butterfat supplied as from September 1, 1930 to June 30, 1931, inclusive, thus making the average for the season Is per lb over all grades, free of all costs. The directors also recommend a dividend of 6 per cent, on the paid-up capital as at June 30, 1931. , , .. In accordance- with the Articles of Association, Messrs. Davison, Gloyn, and Huddleston retire by rotation from tli© board. Mr Davison is not seeking re-election. Nominations have been received from Messrs. P. C. Burgess, W. C. C-tloyn, J. Huddleston, and L. W. H Noel, and as only three are required an election will therefore be necessary. The costs below are calculated at per lb. butterfat and include the total charges to f.o.b. _ _ Table of quantities, etc., 19di. Butterfat received, 1,539,2471 b; butter manufactured, 1,863,0401 b; over-run, 21.03 per cent.; average test, 38.78 per cent. Costs per lb. butterfat,: Manufacturing, transport, storage, overhead expenses, and depreciation, 1.69 d; costs f.ojb. to London (butter) 1.38 d; cream collection, including depreciation, .39d; finest cream grading, .95.35 per cent; first cream grading, 4.55 per cent.; second cream grading, -.10 per cent. NEW ZEALAND FARMERS’ DAIRY UNION. The thirty-eighth annual-re-port and balance-sheet of the Now Fanners ’ Dairy Union states' 1 at the past year has been a very difficult one indeed for the farmer, the butter market having been depressed practically the whole of the season, resulting in low advances, though it is trusted that this season will show an improvement. An increase in output of 31 tons is reported, the total make for . the year

being 65.0 tons, Ocwfc. Iqr. 22-lbs. Followlowing the usual policy, tho bulk of tho butter has been- sold on consignment, and a small portion sold f.o.b. at a very favourable price. Tho advances for tho year have averaged 11.49 d., and in addition, tho directors have resolved to make a final payment of li per-lb on butterfat supplied from July 1, 1930, to June 30, 1931, also a dividond of per cent, on paid up capital. Tho directors are again bringing to tho notice of suppliers the large reduction in manufacturing expenses, the outstanding item being that of wages, which has boon reduced by £449, the total decroaso in the expenses (no.t including freight, grading and London control) being £BSO. Tho directors add that the management are to be congratulated on their successful effort to cut down charges and to return the suppliers the best possible price for their crea.m. The report adds that Mr H._ Freeman, of Ot aki, who'had been a .-director of the company for a long period, passed away last September. Mr J. A. Woodley, of Aoknutcre, has been elected to a scat on tho directorate. The retiring director is Mr R. H. Stallard, and the auditor Mr E. Gant Sim,, both of w T hom a.re eligible for re-election.

TIAKITAIIUNA COMPANY-, The twelfth annual report of the Tiaki-tahuna Dairy Company to be presented to suppliers by the chairman (Mr M. Richardson) is as follows: “The quantity of cheese manufactured, green weights, for the year was 167 tons, Bcwt., 2qrs., 221b5., the quantity of cheese manufactured, grader s weight, was 163 tons, 7cwt., 3qrs. 221 bs; average shrinkage from marked weights to sale weights, for what we have account. sales for is 2.41 per cent; total milk received for clieesc-making, 3,309,7351b5.; total butter-fat received for cheese-making, 137,9G11b5.; average test, 4.21; averago yield of cllo ™p_ I , to each pound of butter-fat, _ grader’s weights; averago weight o± milk to each pound of cheese, 9.041 b.; avorage price paid per pound of butterfat for cheese-making, 9.62 d. At June 30, 1931, there were 204 crates unsold, and for balancing purposes these were taken into account at. 60/ per cwt. for, white and 62/ per cwt. for coloured. The balance to the credit of tho appropriation, account is £820.15/4, which is made up of a balance of £33 'lB/9 brought forward from tho previous year, to which has to be added £l<o 15/9, being cream under-valued, and. £616 0/10 transferred from profit and loss account. The directors recommend a further payment of l§d. per lb., on butter-fat ■ used for cheese-making, which will absorb the sum of £790 S/ and will make an avorage payment for the season of lid., leaving a balance of £3O 7/4 to be disposed of as tho meeting may decide. The retiring directors are Messrs. L. Dampnoy and J. C. Hearscy who, being eligible, oticr themselves for re-election. The auditor, Mr. P. L. Sim, also retires, but offers himself for re-appointment;’’ AWAHURI COMPANY

The directors of tho Awahuri Dairy Company, in the 34th. annual report, state: “It will be seen that the company is still making satisfactory progress. The season has not been a good one so far as prices are concerned, but from a production point of view the result is very good indeed, there being approximately 78 tons more butter made this year' than in the previous year, suppliers will also be pleased to learn that the grade of butter is still very good, the average figure for the year being 94.523, and it is pleasing to record that the factory is still one of the highest graded at Wellington. Prices of butter fluctuated a great deal on the London market, ranging from 125/ to 103/. The latter figure is the lowest price received for some years. At the present time the price, is in the vicinity of 'll2/. Tho average advance paid for all grades-of cream during the season was 16.7629 d. per lb. butter-fat. A further payment of LS4O4d. per lb. will bo paid on all grades, making a total average payment of 12.6033 d. per lb. The proposed extra payment is as follows: Id. for August, 14d. for January, February, March and April, Ifd. for September, 2d. for May and June, and for” October, : November and December. A dividend of 6 per cent.;on the paid-up capital is provided for in. the balance of profit and loss account. The following are .the, percentages of the different grades of cream supplied: Finest, 77.854; first, 21.404; second. .742. The averago test of cream was 38.627;. the average grade of butter was 94,523; and the average over-run was 20.838 per cent. The cost of manufacture per lb. of butter, including cost of boxes, was .67423. The quantity of butter made was 1087 tons 3cwt. 3qr. 201 b. Messrs. N. Campbell and A. Montgomerie retire from the directorate and both are eligible for re-election. The retiring auditors, Messrs. Dempsy and Litchfield, again offer their services. The show results have again this year proved that out butter is one of the finest produced in New Zealand, and the manager (Mr. Death) is to be congratulated on the result. Tho best thanks of tho shareholders are due to the whole staff for the efficient manner in which they have carried out their respective duties.’’