NORTHERN DAIRY CONCERNS

Otago Witness, Issue 3212, 6 October 1915, Page 21

NORTHERN DAIRY CONCERNS

(From Our Wanganui Correspondent.) HER ETA UN G A. The thirty-third annual report ol the Heretaunga 00-operative Dairy Company, in Hawke’s Bay! .--hows that the not profit for the year is £1442, which, added to the £lO6 13s 2d carried forward from last year, gives £1548 13s 2d available for distribution, and it is recommended that there be paid a 7 per cent, dividend on all paid-up capital, and |d per lb bonus to suppliers for butter-fat supplied for the year. In spite of the severe drought experienced last season 292,9481 b of buttcr-fat were purchased, being only 14,6031 b less than the previous (record) year, from which 153 tons of butter were manufactured. The monthly rates of payment for butter-fat wore as follow:—September, milk HJd, cream 12d; October, ll|d, 12d ; November, ll|d, 12d; December, ll§d, 12d; January, 12|d. 13d; February, 123 d, 13d; March, 123 d, 13d; April, 13Jd, lid; 'day, 153 d, IS^d; June, 15|d, 16d; July, 173 d, 173 d; August. 16|d, 17d ; —giving an average monthly payment per lb of l3id for milk and 13gd for cream. With the proposed bonus added the monthly average payment will be 14d for milk and 143 d for cream. For years past ‘homo separation’ has been steadily growing, with the result that this season your directors were faced, with the fact that, owing to insufficient quantities of milk coming in, the creameries could be run only at a loss. After most careful consideration and exhaustive inquiries from West Coast companies which had passed through a similar experience, the board decided to close all the creameries and to purchase a motor lorry for cream oollect'on in order to maintain our connection and supply. This lorry has been on the road since the middle of August, and is proving an unqualified sue cess. New suppliers continue to come to ns, and indications point to a very busyseason. It is recommended that a donation of £SO to made out of surplus profits to the Wounded Soldiers’ Fund, and that a bonus of 5 per cent, be given to the stuff. It was decided to accept the recommendation of the directors, and declare a dividend of 7 per cent, on all paid-up capital. BUNNYTHOEFE. At the eighth annual meeting of the Bunnythorpe Dairy Company regret was expressed in the report that the year had been the worst experienced in the district for years. The output ia August was ahead of the previous year; but in Septem-, her there was a decrease of 20001 b of butterfat, and the supply in comparison with other reasons steadily decreased each month, so that, at the end of the year, the directors found they were behind in thenoutput of butter to the extent of 51-i tons. “Although,” said the report, “with the final payment on account of butter-fat we arc paying a higher price than usual per lb, the loss to the district was a very heavy one. The amount paid to suppliers last year was £20.365 14s, against £15.809 19s Id (his year, showing a loss to suppliers of £4555, which, after the final payment is made, will be reduced to £3550. The profit and loss account shows a credit of £1683 14s, and it was decided to pay a dividend of 53 per cent, on all paid-up capital, a final payment of 2d por lb on all butterfat supplied from the Ist January to the 31st July, 1915, Inclusive, and the balance to the credit of depreciation account. The average price paid to suppliers for the financial year was 12,7928 d por lb, and (his was increased by tbo final payment of 2d. exclusive of tbo 13d paid for casein. The butter sold bvouaht in £22,258, andi suppliers received £16.321. ALTON COMPANY. At the sixth annual meeting of the Alton Dairy Factory Company the report showed that for the past season Is Id por lb had been paid for buttcr-fat, leaving a balance

of £2932 8s 9d. It was decided that the payment of another 2d per lb be made, making it up to Is Bid. The season's output of cheese was sold to Messrs Weddol and Co. at 6 7-16 d first grade, and 6 3-16 d for second grade, and the whey butter to M 'ssrs Wright, Stephenson, and Co. at lid. OPUNAKE. At the annual meeting of the Oounako Dairy Factory Company the balance available (£2218 19s 2d) was dealt with as follows : One per cent, on the share capital, absorbing £39 Os 3d; 10 per cent, to suppliers on milk supplied, absorbing £1726 7a 8d; and £4OO written off lor depreciation. This will leave a balance of £53 lls 3d. It was resolved to vote the manager a bonus of £2O, and the secretary £lO, as an appreciation of their past services. The chairman was voted an honorarium °f £2O for the past year, and it was decided that next year the chairman be given £25, and the directors 10s for each of the 12 ordinary meetings and 5s for extra meetings.