SOUTHERN DAIRY FACTORY COMPANIES.

Otago Witness, Issue 3313, 12 September 1917, Page 10

SOUTHERN DAIRY FACTORY COMPANIES.

MATAURA. The annual mooting of the Mataimi Dairy Factory Co. (Ltd.) was attended by 40 shareholders. Mr John Gray (chairman of directors) presided. Comparing the balance sheet with 25 years ago, the chairman stated that they had paid out £34,761 for milk last year as against £3240 at that time. Cheese sold amounted to £38,369 against £4OOO odd, and the sales of butter last year amounted to £1662. The expenses of manufacturing had increased considerably and they bad had to pay out £I2OO odd in export tax, of which it was thought a refund might be made; but so far nothing had been heard of it. The directors had recommended paying a dividend of 9 per cent, to shareholders. For some 10 or 12 years the factory did not pay, and the directors considered it their duty to give shareholders a fair dividend on their shares. Messrs R. M'Bride, T. M'Donald, and J. Patrick were elected directors. Tho total Quantity of milk received was 10,840,2301 b, with an average test of 3.7. Every pound of butter-fat produced 2.71 b of cheese, and tho total quantity of cheese manufactured during the season was 473| tons. ISLAND. The annual meeting of the Island Dairy Factory Co. (Ltd.) was attended by 15 shareholders. Mr W. T. Davidson (chairman of directors) presided, and in moving the adoption of the annual report and. balance sheet stated that the season had been a record one. The sale of the coming season's output had not been effected; but it was expected that the Imperial Government would take the whole product of the Dominion at a satisfactory figure. The butter-fat tax was a disturbing element, costing the company over £6OO. The chairman read the following statistics for the season's operations:—Milk per lb of cheese, 10.0021 b; cheese per lb of butter, fat, 2.731 b; average test 3 68; whey butter per 100 gallons of milk, 2.40ib; milk per gallon of 10lb, 7±d. The directors paid out Is 6d per lt> butter-fat over the whole season, with another 2£d per lb to be paid,when all the cheese has been accounted for. Butter tor the 1916-17 season yielded £1272; cheese for the 1916-17 season, £17,771 7s 6d; and the expenditure for milk, 1916-17, *-!-4>*» 6s The revenue from cheese was Aia,(\Jai butter, £BOB 7s Bd. Messrs Duthie and Wards were re-elected directors, and Messrs Leary, Cuthbertson, and Webb were appointed auditors.

MERRIVALE. The annual meeting of the Merriyale Co-operative Dairy Co. (Ltd.) was presided over bv Mr J. G. Leitch General satisfaction was expressed with the result of the year's work, notwithstanding that the quantity of milk received was below that of the previous year. Messrs F. Cooper and J. Rohan were elected directors, and Messrs Scandrett and Sons were appointed auditors. , , , .-. _ The following figures are taken from the annual report, the figures for last season being shown in parentheses:—Number of suppliers, 24 (29); milk received, 2,043,9491 b (2,702,6581 b); butter-fat produced, 73,4471 b (97,1561 b); cheese produced (gross , 194,5081 b (257 98;lb); cheese produced (net), 188, Ibdlti (252'2711b); average price paid for butterfat W lb, Is 8d 13-16 d (Is s*d); average price paid per gallon of milk, 7.4 d (6.19 d); average tost, 3.59 per cent (3 59 per cent); milk to produce lib of cheese, 10.501 b (10.471 b); cheese produced from lib of butter-fat, 2.641 b (2.661bJ ; average price received for cheese on net weight, 9 46d (7.54 d); average price, t-°- h ->*°* hotter-fat on value of cheese sold, 2e .04d); •whey butter produced, 60511 b (70121 b); average price received, Is from each ton of cheese, 69£lb. FAIRFAX. The annual meeting of the Fairfax Dairy Company was presided over by Mr A. Fleck who commended suppliers on tJie sacrifice they had made to write off £4OO for depreciation during the year. The total debt on their property and plant, including the whey-skimming plant, was £IOOO, and, with reasonable returns for the next two or three seasons, they would have this considerablv reduced. Messrs A. Bulman and C M'lhtosh, the retiring directors, were re-elected, and Mr W. A. * Saunders reappointed auditor. . The annual report supplies the following figures, last year's figures appearing in parentheses :—-Number of suppliers, 15 (19)) S received, 936.8201 b (1504 0971 b); butterfat produced, 33,8711 b (5*,4341b); cheese produced (gross), 89,1621 b (140,6061 b); net, 86 9971 b (137,3901 b) ; average price paid for bu'tter-fat, Is 5d (Is 3£d); average price paid per gallon for milk, 6.14 d (5.60 d); average test 3 61 per cent. (3.62 per cent); milk to produce lib of cheese, 10.501 b fIO.TOIWI cheese produced from lib of butter-fat, 2.641 b (2581 b); average price for cheese on net weight, 9.14 d (7.42 d); average price, f.o.bv, for butter-fat on value of cheese sold, 2* (Is 6.71 d); cream extracted from -whey. 38241 b, producing butter-fat equal to

17691 b; butter-fat from whey per ton of oheeee, 4441 b. OTAUTAU. The annual report of the directors of the Otautau Dairy Factory Co. states that suppliers have been paid Is 3.16 d per lb for butter-fat. The average price received, f.0.b., for 141 tons Bcwt produced was slightly over 9jd. The directors recommend the payment of a dividend of 7£ per cent, on the paid-up capital of the company. They propose to pay suppliers from the surplus a further bonus of one farthing per lb on butter-fat when payment is received for cheese unshipped. Ihe following figures are given in the report, those for the preceding year appearing in parentheses: Suppliers, 34 (35); milk received, 3,260,8181 b (3,284,1841 b); butter-fat produced, 117,2121 b (115,7461 b); cheese produced, 316,7651 b gross, 309,0101 b net (321,2571 b and 313,4201 b); average price per lb paid for butter-fat, la 8.16 d (Is 5.56 d); average price paid per gallon of milk, 7.21 d (6d); average test, 3.6 per cent. (3.53 per cent.); milk to produce lib of cheese, 10.291 b (10.221 b); cheese pro duced from lib of butter-fat, 2.701 b (2.771 b); average price received for cheese on net weight, 9.36 d 17.42 d); average price, f.0.b., for butter-fat on value of cheese sold, 2s >osd (Is 8d); whey butter produced, 61951 b (64591 b); average price received, Is 3.13 d (Is); butter from each ton of cheese, 441 b. BOGGY BURN. At- tho annual meeting of the Boggy Burn Dairy""Obmpany Mr John Keith presided over a. gathering of 40 shareholders. The chairman stated that the company had experienced a very profitable year—the best In the history of the factory. The report recommended the payment of id per 'b butter-fat bonus, and 6 per cent, dividend. Unless the Government purchased the cheese and decided to' advance against storewarrant there would be considerable difficulty in getting ready money. If a satisfactory sale were made the directors intended to pay a further halfpenny when the money was available. It had been suggested that a bonus be paid of Id on paidup shares. The report was adopted on the motion of Messrs Keith and John Fraser. The following directors were elected: Messrs J. Keith, W. Baird, and P. M'Grath. Mr Adam Hamilton was appointed auditor. It was decided to continue purchasing milk on the butter-fat basis. At a subsequent meeting of directors Mr J. Keith was reelected chairman of directors. BROWNS. The annual meting of Browns Dairy Factory Company was presided over by Mr John M'Callum, who, reviewing the past year's work, said a great many difficulties had been experienced, and for a brief Seriod the payments of milk had to be reuced. He was sure the suppliers understood the position—if the money stopped coming in they could not pay out. Every thing had now been paid out, and the direc tors recommended the payment of a 6 per Sant. dividend and a bonus of id per lb utter-fat. At a subsequent meeting pf directors Mr M'Callum was re-elected chairman of directors. Since the meeting the directors met and appointed Mr Murdoch Watson factory manager." AWARUA. At the annual meeting of the Awarua Dairy Factory Company Mr H. R. Wilson presided over" a meeting of 20 shareholders. The chairman stated that the Government eventually purchased the cheese at 9£d—a splendid price. The cost of production had increased considerably, principally wages and materials. Notwithstanding the extra cosjt, the company had done very well indeed Instead of starting with a heavy bank overdraft, there would be a small credit balance. Shipping difficulties had Eade the payments to the company irregur. The bonus and dividend would bo distributed in the near future. So far the new season's cheese had not been sold. There was every promise of a good season ahead, and the speaker urged the shareholders to give the factory all support. The following directors were elected: —Messrs J. H. M'Kenzie, S. Harvey, and Alex. M'Leod. At a subsequent meeting of directors Mr H. R. Wilson was re-elected chairman. Mr M. Daly was appointed auditor.