THE DAIRY INDUSTRY.

Otago Witness, Issue 3314, 19 September 1917, Page 11

THE DAIRY INDUSTRY.

NORTH ISLAND CONCERNS. (From Our North Island Correspondent) At a meeting of shareholders of the Kaiticko Dairy Co., held at Taumarunui, the chairman (Mr G. Stanton) remarked how gratifying it was to find that day that the balance of last season's butter, amounting to 500 boxes, had been disposed of at Is 7£d per lb, thus making another bonus payable. Although this was not the final payment, suppliers to the Kaitieke Factory had received a price equal to that paid by any other company in the district. The company, as a company, had contributed £IOO to the War Loan, and suppliers would have the satisfaction of knowing that, if they individually had not been udlo to subscribe, their company had made an investment. Regarding next season's output, Mr Stanton mentioned that the Imperial Government had stated their willingness to buy; but, apart from, that, there was nothing for publication. It was safe, however, to say that the shareholders would report a really good season. WAIKATO. The second annual general meeting of the Waikato Co-operative Cheese Co. wa3 held at Hamilton. In moving the adoption of tho report and balance sheet Mr W. Goodfellow (manging director) congratulated members on the company's progress, and gave a' brief resume of tho past season's work. The sum of £1535 lis 5d had been paid by ' way of butter-fat tax. It was expected that a slight refund -would be made by the Government, as tho amount collected was more than required. Whey cream, returned a very satisfactory figure, and it was anticipated that the whey butter would realise considerably more than the stocktaking value. Ihe usual depreciation of 10 per cent, on plant and 5 per cent, on buildings had been provided for. It was tho object of the directors to keep the assets of the company always* worth 20s in the pound, and by this means could bo assessed at face value. It was reported that during the season 196,7911 b of butter-fat were received at Aka Aka, and the total payment made to the suppliers for the season was £17,302 3s 3d \21.09d per lb), whilst at East Tamaki 172,<s3Ub of butterfat were received, tho payments being £15,456 13s 9d (21.53 d per lb). A dividend of 8 per cent, was declared, and it was decided to pay a progress bonus of 2d per lb on the year's supply at once. Mr Goodfellow stated that it \vas not expected that all cheese now in store would be exported beforo tho end of October. Arrangements had been made for cold storage to cover the coming season's requirements. TE HORO. The second annual report of the Te Horo Dairy Co. (Manawatu) states:—"The balance sheet dkcloses a sum of £6083 lis as a credit balance for tho year, including balance carried forward from last year of £989 3s sd. The directors recommend that the balance bo allocated as "follows: —(1) A further payment of 5d per lb to suppliers of butter-fat, making- the total payment for the season is 9d per lb: (2) reducing the bank overdraft of £2200 down to £IBOO. This absorb £4641 9s 7d, and the balance will be carried forward. The figures submitted (£758 Is 7d) represented store profits, which will be returned to those shareholders who havo been customers to the store, pro rata, to the amount of their purchases. In tho figures submitted is also, as part of tho credit balance, a sum of £2078 14s 10d. which represents store stock. The total cheese made was 235 tons, and cream sold was e'qual to another 18 tons. The average yield of cheese per lb of butter-fat was 2.611 b, and the cost of manufacturing (including cream equivalent) was .57d per lb. Tho total amount of milk delivered at the factory was 5;247,2161b, which produced 203,5911 b of/butter-fat. Each pound of butter-fat took 25.771 b of milk, and 9.871 b of milk to make lib of cheese. The average test was 3.94 for the season. ETA ORA. The fifteenth annual report of tho Kia Ora Dairy Co. (Gisborne) states that there k a balance remaining to profit and loss account of £4562 18s Id, including £222 3s brought forward from last year. It is proposed to pay a dividend of 6 per cent, on fully-paid-up shares, • in addition to other appropriations, including a bonus of 1.06 d per lb to shareholders on their butter-fat supplied during the season 1916-17. amounting to about £1640. For the purpose of comparison with former years, the rollowmg statistics are given:—Milk and cream received (in pounds of milk): 1915, 9,544,633; 1916 (10 months), 9,201,322; 1917, 10,723,467; used for town milk supply, 395.3531 b, 329 1601 b, 109,7301 b; butter-fat, 352.6121 b. 347.3241 b, 432.8971 b; butter made, 413,4731 b, b, 517,7231 b; average test of milk, 3.8, 3.9, 4.0; average test of cream, 35.0, 37.0, 36.6; average over-run, 17£ per cent., 15.23 per cent., I9i per cent.; average payout per lb monthly, 11.25 d, 13.3 d, 15.58 d; average payout per lb actual on quantity, 10.71 d, 13.15 d, 15.94 d; export sales, 207,7601 b, 201.6561 b, 261,8001 b; local sales, 205,7101 b, 198.5681 b. 255,9231 b; cost of production, all charges, 3.80 d, 3.24 d, 2.99 d. Tho high grade of tho company's butter has been fully maintained throughout the season, and compares very favourably with other factories in the Dominion. The Cow-testing Association has been active. MANGAWHATA. The annual report of the Mangawliata Co-operative Dairy Co. showed that shareholders had received a uniform price on tho whole of their butter-fat for tho season of Is 8d per lb, and that when tho further payments due from the Government arrived they will receive a further payment of lfd per lb on the wholo season's supply of butter-fat. making a total of Is 9gd per lb. Tho total cheese manufactured was approximately 155 tons. LEPPERTON. The twenty-fifth annual meeting of the Lopperton Dairy Co. was presided over by Mr H. B. Leppcr. Tho balance sheetshowed tho- year's revenue to have been £17.439 14s 4d. The chairman stated that tho past season had boon tho best the factory had ever had from the point of view of payout. The season, however, had been a very trying ono for all shareholders on account of scarcity of food and water. Despite this the manager had again turned out a good article. Ho was usually either

first or second in the grade list at Moturoa, this year being first with the fine average of 93.88.