Rexdale Dairy Company

Manawatu Times, Volume 63, Issue 204, 30 August 1938, Page 2

Rexdale Dairy Company

THE ANNUAL MEETING SATISFACTORY FINANCIAL POSITION «The twenty-ninth annual meeting of the Rexdale Co-operative Dairy Company, Ltd., was held in the Mangamaire school on Saturday afternoon. The chairman, Mr. T. H. Verry, presided over a good attendance of suppliers. Annual Report. In presenting the annual report in detail the secretary explained how the Marketing Board had made regulations so that the manufacturing charges had not risen on the balance-sheet although the actual costs were very much up. The annual report read as follows:

“The Government commandeer of dairy produce continues and will be in force again during the coming season, although no basic price is yet announced. It is expected that the price will be well above that paid during the year under review, farm and factory costs having risen to an unexpected level. “The average payment for 1936*37 season was 14.87 d per lb. of butterfat (all grades) as against our estimate of 14.166 d per lb., the additional return being secured from the Dairy Produce Pool. For the season under review the average advance on butterfat (all grades) was 13.97 d per lb. butterfat and the amount available in appropriation account is equal to a further 1.76 d per lb. of butterfat.

“After bringing the balance down from the previous year it has beeu resolved to make a final payment on all butterfat of 2d per lb., and this will be available at the close of the annual general meeting as usual.

“It is noted that the average test of 4.608 per cent, is the highest in the history of the company and the yield of cheese is consequently affected. It is a matter for regret that we had as much second grade milk as the statistical table indicates, and it is hoped that during the season just opening every supplier will assist the factory staff by delivering nothing but tne best aVticle. As you are aware, cheese is paid for according to grade; the higher the grade the better the price received.

“The farm accounts show that after making up a loss in the first year there is a profit of £42 19s lid which is carried forward. A satisfactory position is indicated for which reason it is not now necessary to make large provision by way of depreciation. The retiring directors are Messrs E. L. Lloyd and W. It. Ross, who aro eligible for reelection and have accepted nomination. The services of the retiring auditor are again placed at your disposal. ’ ’ Statistics. Payment previous year per pound of butterfat, 14.87 d; payment current year per pound butterfat—advance 13.975 d, estimated surplus 1.76" d; number of suppliers, previous year 32, current year 30; total charges, including repairs and depreciation up to f.o.b. at per pound butterfat, 3.224 d, 3.311 d; pounds milk received 9,953,581, 9,467,436; pounds of butterfat 447,110, 436,310; average butterfat test in milk 4.49 per cent., 4.608 per cent.; pounds of cheese (factory packing weight) 1,105,579, 1,045,365; pounds milk to make lib. cheese 8.78, 8.91; pounds cheese to lib. butterfat 2.54, 2.437; average grade of cheese 92.270, 92.094; pounds of whey butter made, 22,731, 22,222; expressed in percentage of total butterfat received for cheese-making 5.22, 5.18; milk grade percentages —first 98.92 per cent., 94.75 per cent.; second, 1.08 per cent, 5.25 per cent.

The chairman, in moving the adoption of the report and balance-sheet, said the year had been an uneventful one really although it had nearly been a very eventful year as one night a lire had been discovered just in time in the coal bunker. No major work had been done during the year. Suppliers would notice that the wages wore well up but not more than really had been expected.. The statistics, he said, showed a proportion of second grade and this no doubt was partly due to the very hot summer. Ho touched on the guaranteed price and concluded by formally moving the adoption of the balance-sheet, which was seconded by Mr. R. J. Smith and passed. Mr. Smith asked why Australia paid out more than New Zealand. Mr. Brechin said the Paterson scheme was responsible for part but Australia had also done better on the open market. Messrs E. L. Lloyd and W. R. Ross were re-elected directors and returned thanks, promising to do their best for the company. Mr. W. C. Harrington was re-elected auditor. The chairman read a letter from the auditor complimenting the company on its fine position. General Business. At the request of the chairman the secretary, Mr. Brechin, gave a short talk on the wages tax and the responsibility of the company to see that each employee paid his “dole." He said each manager had r~w been informed to join a union. He mentioned that he regularly had visits from Inspectors and the position was getting more difficult all the time. Shortage of Labour. The chairman touched on the definite shortage of labour in the district, saying the territory was down to bedrock with no spare labour in tho case of sickness. Mr. Jensen said he had had the position brought home to him very forcibly when the question of the position on the farm had been dealt with. They had had 32 applications, all from re spectable married couples. The single men had gone off to the public works where they had got better wages. The chairman said the question of accommodation on farms was one of the basic reasons why there ♦as such a

shortage of labour. Mr. L. R. Wards, the manager, dealt with one or two matters in connection with the suppliers, congratulating them on the past year.

The farm instructor, ho said, had been round all the suppliers and had given, on the whole, a very good report and there was only one or two suppliers who would have to toe tho line. He produced a graph to show the amount of second grade milk compared with each supplier, without any names being disclosed. Mr. W. Burgess asked why the factory farm had produced so much second grade. Mr. Wards said one day he spent the whole day in the shed cleaning it out very thoroughly and the next aay the trouble was as bad as ever. He emphasised tho necessity of plenty of boiling water, saying the cans also wanted scouring out and sterilising either with boiling water or a preparation of some kind. He reported that he had given the question of the hot water a lot of thought and this year the service would bo much improved. The meeting closed with a hearty vote of thanks to tho manager and staff, particularly mentioning tho careful work and interest taken by the manager. A hearty vote of thanks was also carried to the secretary and his staff. Both Mr. Brechin and Mr. Wards returned thanks.