SOUTH ISLAND DAIRY ASSOCIATION.

Otago Witness, Issue 3247, 7 June 1916, Page 11

SOUTH ISLAND DAIRY ASSOCIATION.

ANNUAL MEETING. The annual meeting of the South Island Dairy Association was held in the Express Company's buildings on the. 31st ult., Mr T. VV. Jb'oster (clia.rman ot the executive) presiding over a very large and representative meeting of delegates from the various dairy companies affiliated to the association. In moving the. adoption, of the report and balance sheet, the Chairman referred to the absence of Mr J. R. Scott, th* association's late secretary, who, he stated, had been overtaken by a serious illness in December. The association had decided to grant Mr Scott three months' leave of absence on full pay, and Mr W. H. Bolt had been appointed acting secretary,, and subsequently Mr G. Lamb had been appointed permanent secretary. The past year had been a fairly successful one. Prices had been satisfactory ; but he did not know that production had increased to the extent it might have done. In the. north the drought had caused a restriction in production, but in the south the factories had had a particularly good year, so far as the weather was concerned, and the production had increased to some extent at any rate. To the end of April, 71,798 cases of cheese had been shipped through the association, and he understood that about 10,000 cases were in the store at Bluff, and there was a good bit of the May make in the factories* Referring to the action of the Government in taking one-third of the cheese output from the dominion, he had no doubt that the Government had taken the right stepin fact, a great number of them were of opinion that the Government should have commandeered the whole output. In a great trouble such as the Empire was in at present money counted in the end, and anything that the Empire could save was bound to tell in the final issue. It had been said that the Government this year proposed to take the whole of the cheese output of the dominion. If such a proposal were given effect to he did not think they would object, if they were given a fair price. The speaker touched on the increased cost of production that had taken place within the past two years, following on the increased cost of material and advance in wages, and in the price to be paid the Government would have to take these different conditions into consideration. As regards the cool stores erected by Bluff Harbour Board, the board had assured them that it did not desire to make any profit out of the stores, and that if it found it had made a profit, after paying expenses, it was prepared to make a reduction in the cost to the association. —(Applause.) Taking everything into consideration he thought they could congratulate themselves on the satisfactory manner in which they had got their cheese away.—(Appkuse.) On one occasion only had anything like a block occurred, but that was soon relieved. Of the 10,000 crates lying at the Bluff he understood that some 4000 or 5000 crates were being loaded there to-morrow. —(Applause.) They had every reason to look forward to circumstances being favourable to their business in the coming season. As far as the labour problem was concerned, ha thought the shortage would tend to decrease the production for some time, because the conditions during the past yea* had been bad, and they must be accentuated in the coming season. So many of their young men had left for the front, and so many must go before the war camo to an end. A deputation had already waited on the Prime Minister asking for certain exemptions for dairy employees, but they had not so far received any definite promise. He (the speaker) thought, under the circumstances, that something should be done to organise labour. Another thimj which required consideration was a probable shortage of rennet. Arrangements had been made to secure supplies from Denmark, but tho position had- been quite upset b£ the fact that the export of veils—the raw material—had been stopped from Russia, to Denmark. Since he had come to Dunedin ho had learnt that proposals had been made with regard to manufacturing rennet in the dominion. A proposal had been made that a co-operative company should be formed by tho dairy companies, and a Dunedin firm had also stated that it was prepared to supply rennet if the farmers would supply tho veils. He was of opinion that a great deal more could be done in indent business, and tho executive intended, to make every effort to push on this business and make it of some use to the factories.—• (Applause.) It might be necessary, however, to ask the companies to do something in tho matter of finance, to properly carry on the indenting.—{Applause.) _ In answer to a question, tho Chairman stated that 46 factories were taking out insurance through tho association, leaving 37 factories outstanding. Two other factories had since since intimated their _ intention of insuring through the Although 11 more factories had insured through the association as compared with last year, tho fact that tho insurance commissions were lower for 1916 was explained by tho fact that the premiums had been reduced by 20 per cent. The motion was carried unanimously. ELECTION OP DIEKCTOnS. Tho following candidates were nominated to fill two vacancies on the directorate;—-

.John Barnett (Canterbury Central) and James Lumsden (Drummond), retiring directors, and Georgo Stuart (Edendale), John M'Naughton (Aparima), Hugh M'Call (Seaward Downs), and David Wards (Island Dairy). The ballot papers wero being distributed when it was discovered that through a mistake E. J. Stevens's name had been omitted. It was further discovered that although Mr Stevens's name had been sent to the factory managements as a candidate, MrWard's name had not. The dual discovery caused some confusion. It was finally decided to withdraw the ballot papers, and issue fresh ones, and adjourn the meeting till the afternoon. The voting resulted in Messrs Barnett and Lumsden being re-elected. Mr Hugh Mitchell was appointed auditor. GENERAL. Mr Wards, on behalf of the Mataura Island Dairy Factory, moved as follows: — (1) " That a super grade class for cheese bo established." —The mover stated that factories did not receive payment commensurate with the quality of the cheese. For instance, if a cheese was graded 92 it would not be of greater value than ono which was graded 885 points.—Mr Bolt seconded the motion pro forma. Speaking from his knowledge of what had been done as re- , gards butter, he said that the commissioner (Mr Cuddle) always objected to butter being graded, as it penalised butters ""just below a particular grade.—A delegate maintained that if the motion were carried the smaller factories would be handicapped.—Mr Jas. Sawcrs said he thought values should be differentiated as regards cheese grades, but he did not think the time had yet arrived to establish a super grade. What they wanted first was direct shipments from Bluff so that this cheese could bo delivered on the London market in practically tho same condfcion as when it was delivered at Bluff. —(" Hear, hear.") —Another delegate said he considered that a super grade would encourage factories to put in pasteurising plants.—Mr H. J. Middleton said a super grade would bo called first grade on the London market and other grades would be called second grade. The proposal would not advance their prices in Europe at all. — ("Hear, hear.") —Mr Wards then said he would withdraw his motion. Mr Wards moved: "That arrangements be made by the association for monthly sales of cheese at shipping ports or else where, as may bo most convenient"; and ''That a committee be set up to revise the sales contract note."—Tho mover asked that both of these motions bo also withdrawn, and this was agreed to. Mr W. A. Saunders moved on behalf of the Tisbury Co-operative Dairy Factory Company —"That owing to tho volume of shipping business now transacted by the dairy factories in Southland from Bluff, and tho lucrative indent and commission business which might be obtained by the association with a resident agent in Invercargill, an agent in Invercargill be appointed to look after the general interests of the association's business, in Southland, and as a convenience to tho factories in the south." The mover said thero was no ulterior intention to remove tho headquarters of the association from Dunedin to Inveroargill, so long as the southern dairy factories received tho aitcntion they deserved. Tho bulk of tho cheese was shipped from Bluff, and surely they had tho right to have an agent in Invercargill.— Mr J. Campbell seconded the motion. — Mr Lumsden moved as an amendment—- " That 110 action bo taken, and that any appointment be left in the hands of the executive to deal with when it thinks necessary." Mr Lumsden quoted figures showing that the exports of butter and cheese from Otago and Canterbury were greater than those from Bluff, over a period of two or fchreo years, with tho exception of the last year.—Mr Lumsden explained that he had no objection to an agent at Bluff—he believed in such an appointment—but ho wanted consideration deferred.—Tho Chairman said ho was also against tho appointment in the meantime.—Tho mover said Mr Lumsden's figures had been twisted. He (tho speaker) had mentioned cheese, but ho did not spoak of butter. Ho went on to criticise tho work of tho directorate, and roferred to them as a "lethargio'' body.—

On a (show of hands being taken, the motion was defeated by a fair number. BENNET. The meeting was addressed by MiBrash, assistant secretary of the North Island Dairy Association, on the matter of getting future supplies of rennet. During the course of his remarks, Mr Brash stated that enough calves were killed in New Zealand to supply both New Zealand and Australia with rennet. The Chairman said that if anything could be done to promote a co-operative company, as outlined by Mr Brash, he thought it would be a good thing, and that factories should take up shares. —A letter was received from Messrs A. Murdoch and Co., laying out proposals under which they would take up the manufacture of rennet. —Tt was decided to leave the matter in the hands of the executive to take 6teps to meet the North Island Dairy Association in conference to discuss the question of forming a co-operative company. NEXT ANNUAL MEETING. Mr Campbell moved as a recommendation to the directors that the next nnnual meeting of the association be held in Dun-odin.-—Mr M'Call seconded the motion. Pie said ho thought all meetings of the association should be held at its headquarters.— Mr Buekonham moved as an amendment that the meeting lie held at Invercargill.— Air Monson seconded the amendment, which was lost. VOTE OF THANKS. Several delegates spoke in highly complimentary terms of the good work done by the chairman of the association (Mr Foster), and a morion conveying the feelings of the meeting was thereupon carried unanimously. A vote of thanks to the directors closed the meeting.