EDENDALE.

Otago Witness, Issue 2845, 23 September 1908, Page 8

EDENDALE.

The annual meeting of the Edendale Dairy Factory Company last week was well attended. The report (a summary of whioh appeared in last week'-s issue) was adopted. After a ballot Messrs John Morris and William Hall were elected directors. Mr W. B. Scandrott was reappoint&d auditor. It was resolved that the capital of the company bo increased to the amount of £6000 by the creation of additional capital of the amount of £3000, divided into 3000 shares of £1 each. The directors were recommended to increase the wages of tho piggery manager to 42s 9d per week.

ISLAND DAIRY FACTORY COMPANY. The annual meeting of shareholders in the Mataura Ibland Dairy Factory Company was held last week, when there wai a large attendance. Mr John Graham presided. Tho report submitted stated : " Although prices have not been quite as good as last year, we have had the satisfaction of obtaining the highest quoted prices in London during the wholo eeason. This is somewhat unaccountable, owing tt> the very low grades awarded to Inland Dairy Factory at Bluff. I do not suggest incapacity on th& part of the graders; but submit that it pro\e» the unreliability of the present system of grading cheese at two weeks old (some of our second grade cheese- actually topping the London market for tho season). This is very- hampering 1o our factory, as it effectually prevents us from selling "on grade' to London buyers. Mr Clark has been re-engaged for another t-erm as cheesemakcr. and I may hero mention that hi? che^e has been highly commended by our London agent on several occasions during the season. The directors recommend (ho payment of a dividend of 5 per cent', on the paid-up capital of the company." Tho report was adopted after considerable discussion. The Chairman incidentally remarked that milk brought to the factory in the evening might be charged a. small amount to co^er the coot of cooling. Tho pig account, df-alt with separately, showed that £1042 had been icceiyed frofn the sale of pigs. There wa« a surplus after defraying- all charges of £122 7s 6d. Messrs William Aitkcn anct Dai id Wards were elected directoi-, ar.d Mr James Hunter was appointed auditor.

THE GRADING OF CHEESE. During the progi-e* of the anuual inc-et-

ing Mr "William Akken, & director, said he thought it was their duty to drop into line with the graders : let them try and reach the graders' standard, otherwise theirs fthe bland Factory) would be the fault. It was no use fighting the graders. Mr Carmichael : We were the lowest on the graders' list last year. Mr Aitken: And we'll remain there if we don't mend our ways. — The Chairman: We're not fighting the graders, but they us. Mr Aitken said one of the principal graders had told ihim that there was too much moisture in "the Island cheese. Mr James Watson : Can you suggest how to improve our methods? Mr A itken : Leave less /water in. The Chairman submitted that London was the proper place to grade cheese at. Their cheese had brought from. 64s to 653 per cvrt in the open London market, ana 1 yet it was only classed as "second grade" at Bluff. An explanation was surely wanted of this. Mr Mallcott Richardson said the Island cheese could safely be sold on its reputation, and he advised that course being taken. Mr W. Aitken, jun., eaid they had to cart their liewly-made cheese to Edendale railway station, where it was temporarily stored in the goods shed, and thus was very liable to get tainted by the unsavoury odors common to such a place. Then it was sent on to Bluff and graded. If it were sent direct to the cold stores he believed the charges thus incurred would be more than recouped by the higher grading it would receive. Mr John Johnston said rats at Edendale goods shed wero an abomination. Tiie Chairman said the railway authori- | ties at Invercargill had informed him that a rat-proof building to suit their requirements at Edendale could be erected for £30, which the company would have to pay. Mr Johnston : It would pay us, too — > even £50 — after what I saw of the damage done by rats. Mr Aitken, jun., suggested that a locking van might be sent to Titiroa siding, and their cheese sent by that route. The Chairman s&i-d the alternative tenders (to be opened that evening) for carting their cheese to Edendale or Titiroa would meet that proposal. Cold storage, he believed, was rated at Is a ton, and 6d extra, for handling. Mr James Campbell said it was not possible for their manager to make an ideal article when some of their suppliers fed turnips and rape up till near Christmas. Mi* James Sawers himself couldn't do it. The Chairman said that Mr Sawers (grader) was at their factory last season for a week, and his make of cheese during that time watched ; and lie (Mar S&wers) himself subsequently graded it at Bluff a half-poin.fc lower than Mr Clark's (the Island Factory manager). Mr Aitken (reverting to the high price received for ■ their second grade cheese) said Mr Singleton, the Dairy Commissioner, had explained at the Dairying Conference at Dunedin that it was due to their good tortune mi striking a high market. The Chairman, said that was all very we'l ; but the fact was that their second grade had secured top price— a record — and not only on one occasion, but frequently throughout the season. Mr Aitken : Then, according to that, our policy should be to make second grado cheese only. — (Laughter.) Mr Campbell: And only feed them on turnips and rape. — (Renewed laughter.) Mr Watson : We got the top London price, yet we (suppliers) were only paid le per lb for our butter-fat. The Chairman said that the total payments would bring it up close on Is O^d.