Whakaronga Dairy Company

Manawatu Times, Volume 61, Issue 188, 11 August 1936, Page 10

Whakaronga Dairy Company

REPORT FOR ANNUAL MEETING. Tho report to be presented to the 23rd annual meeting of tho Whakaronga Co-operative Dairy Co., Ltd., is as follows: — “Price levels for butter during the year have been considerably bettei than thoso prevailing during tho preceding year, but havo not yet reached a figuro which can bo considered payable from the viewpoint of producers. Of tho total 6423 boxes manufactured for export during tho year, 5313 boxes were shipped on consignment and 1110 were sold f.o.b. Of that consigned the portion sold and for which account sales were to hand up to date of balancing, realised an averago of 91s 9d per cwt., Loudon, and tho unsold portion has been valued at 1145., London. The f.o.b. sales averaged a price equal to approximately Ills., London; 744 boxes of this butter still being in grade stores at the end of June.

“The average grade of butter exported, 93.90, compared with 93.78 for 1934-35, can be accepted as a reflection of the improved quality of milk supplied. As the grading points of butter exported under the new marketing scheme will havo a bearing upon price, wo onco more appeal to suppliers to send along superfine milk and thereby assist in tho production of a still better article. Tho total quantity of butI terfiat haudled during the year amounted to 380,304 lbs., a decreaso of 5 per | cent, compared with last year’s figure. The butter mudo amounted to 457,737 lbs. (204 l-3rd tons) compared with 483,288 lbs., a decreaso of 5 per cent. The average test of milk received during the year was 4.54, w'hich we believe is considerably higher than that of milk supplied to neighbouring factories. The average test of cream received was 35.45 per cent. Total costs to f.o.b. per lb. of butter manufactured amount to 1.91 d., compared with l.S7d. for 1934-35 season. This slight increase can be attributed to the smaller quantity of butter made. During the year the ammonia coils of tho freezing planthave been renewed and the freezing chamber partitioned. This work has effected a marked saving in the cost of ammonia, the charge under this heading being down by approximately 39 per cent. “The averago advance to milk and cream suppliers on account of butter has been 10.08 d. over all grades, and provision has been made in the balancesheet for a bonus payment equal to ].BSd. on all butterfat received during the year, bringing the averago up to 11.96 d. Tho average advance to milk suppliers on account of casein has been l.Old. per lb. of butterfat, and provision has been made in the casein account for a furth’er payment of .tJd., making a total of 1.21 d. for the season, and bring tho total payment to milk suppliers up to 13.17 d., which wo consider a favourable one for a company receiving whole milk. Wo regret to say that the casein market has not been as good as anticipated, but as the result of information gathered at the last meeting of casein company directors and supplying companies, and from independent sources, we believe that bed-rock values have been reached for this commodity. We are advised that a strong demand has commenced with an upward price tendency, and an indication that casein will share in the general appreciation in value of primary products. “All butler and cheese manufactured for export as from Ist instant, is being taken over by tho Government, who will pay to dairy companies a price calculated to permit a pay-out to suppliers of a certain rate for bptterfat. While there exists some apprehension as to the workability of the Government’s guaranteed price scheme, we hope, in the interests of the industry, that it will prove beneficial. “We wish to express our appreciation of the work of the factory manager and staff during the season. Messrs. Oxenham and Mcßae will retire rotation at the annual meeting, and shareholders are invited- to submit nominations to fill the vacancies. Both the above gentlemen offer their services for a further term.”

Statistics for the past season are as follow: —Total butterfat received, 380,3041b5. (decrease 5 per cent.}; butter made, (204.1-3 tons) ,457,7371b5. (decrease 5 per cent.); butter shipped on consignment, 297,5281b5.; butter sold f.0.b., G2,1601b5.; butter sold locally and to suppliers, 100,12G1b5.; ‘average test of milk, 4.54 per cent.; - average test of cream, 38.45 per cent.; average grade of butter shipped, 3.90 per cent., grading of milk, finest 99.03' per. cent., lirst .96 per cent., second .01 per cent.; grading of cream, finest- 99.75 per centi, first .25 per cent., second-nil; -nitrogen content of casein curd made,-27,5291b5.; proportion of nitrogen to butterfat in milk separated for casein curd,-7:77 per cent.; costs per- lb. of butter.. made, manufacture 1.09 d, administration and depreciation ,37d; cost of transport, storage and other charges to on board, ship per lb, of butter shipped, .45&.