FACTORY MEETINGS.

Pahiatua Herald, Volume XLI, Issue 12426, 19 August 1933, Page 5

FACTORY MEETINGS.

TARARUA DAIRY GO. THE ANNUAL MEETING. Almost a full attendance of suppliers was recorded at the eighteenth annual general meeting of the Tararua Co-operative Dairy Company, Ltd., held yesterday, the keenest interest being taken in the proceedings. Mr A. Hay, chairman of directors, presided, and visitors to the meeting included Mr Howden, manager of the Bank of New Zealand, and Mil* Siddells, secretary of the Pahiatua Intermediate Rural Credit Association. In moving the adoption of the report and balance-sheet, . Mr Hay stated that it was useless his going over the ground which was being covered by other chairmen at similar meetings, more especially with regard to the general condition of markets, which, as all knew without telling, was unutterably bad ; indeed they were ruinous to most farmers. He would not dwell on this hut would express the hope that times would soon improve. “However one looks for improvement iii prices,” said Mr Hay, “one should not put all his faith on the realisation of that expectation. It was safer for the company and for the individual to provide for the worst during the coming year and at the same time hope .for the best.” The balance-sheet disclosed the fact that we had come out of the year as well as the best of similar concerns. Expenses had been cut down to the minimum and the quality of the cheese had reaclieci a very high standard, the larger portion of the output - being graded finest. No second grade had been made and it was a credit to the manager (Mr M. H. Coppelll that lie had not turned out one case of second grade cheese since he had been appointed manager. Suppliers, too, had assisted to this end, but still much could be done to “lift the quality of milk.” It was not in the power of directors to raise price levels but it was in the power of qi rectors and other suppliers to raise the level of qualitv. That was one thing that all could do during the coming season and he felt sure all would do their best- in this direction. Cooling of the night’s milk was really essential and Mr Hay illustrated from the record of one supplier who had run his milk over a long cooler without water how great an improvement could be effected. "Tlie milk from this supplier was always finest, and if he could do it so could all the rest of us, ’ declared the chairman. Referring to the new curing room just out of the hands of the contractor that day, Mr Hay stated that the work had. been carried out closely to specification and not a single “extra” had been called for. I he room was the very best of its kind m the district ‘and he was i quite sure would be a great boon to them and a saving of monev. -Naturally suppliers were anxious about the _ expenditure as such a. time as this, but the room was reouired and he felt that thev had done the right thing in goino- on with the work and not- being dismayed at the- depressed conditions which at present existed. Mr Hay also dealt with a number of matters arising out of the report and balance-sheet and questions were freely asked and answered and a. sound and interesting discussion ensued After being duly seconded the resolution for the adoption of the report and balance-sheet was carried. Mr J. B Tait raised tlie question of the early closing of the factorv when the milk declined at the backend of the season. It did not appear quite fair to those few farmers whose cows did not “come in” early, lie said, and they should be considered in the matter. Other suppliers spoke along the same lines and a_ discussion for and against was indulged in, tlie chairman pointing out that when a minimum of milk was available the running costs were greatly increased to the disadvantage of all concerned. Ma* lait, however, still maintained that the position should be faced in the future and the “late milker” given more consideration. Mr Hay stated that the board would try and please everybody in the matter and would certainly do its utmost to run the factory as long as it could without real loss to all suppliers. Mr Tait also suggested that tlie factory should again be placed on the telephone line as a- matter of convenience and a promise was given that the matter would bo looked in t o by the board as soon a.s possible. The question of cost was involved and it was desired to keep these down meanwhile. The retiring director, Mr A. Hay, was re-elected without opposition, as also was the retiring auditor, Mr F. Wise, F.P.A., N.Z. RURAL CREDIT BOARD. Mr S>iddells was requested to speak upon the work of the local board and did so, giving a, most interesting and instructive insight to the valuable work which had been accomplished in this district. Mr Siddells pointed out that of the £IOO,OOO which was available for farmers only £SOOO had been applied for in this district, a surprisingly small" amount when consideration was given to tlie easy terms and Conditions which were available and readily granted. “Of course,” said Mr Siddells, “you \ can’t expect to get what money you j ask for unless you have reasonable security, but given that and a good, honest character, any farmer would

receive help immediately.” An invitation was extended to all farmers to call at his office and discuss the matter with him. “The board,” said the speaker, “is out to assist those who require assistance.” The chairman of the board was a resident of the Ballanee* district and was a practical farmer and other members of the board were also practical men.

Mr Howden, manager of the Bank of New Zealand, was cordially received by the meeting and referred briefly to questions of general interest. He was not quite in accord with the somewhat pessimistic outlook of the chairman for he really believed that * matters would improve, possibly slowly, but nevertheless surely, and in this he thought he was m line with other men who were in a position to give a fair opinion. In his opinion the farmers had done well to battle on as they were doing and he sincerely hoped that the coming year would bring better results for the labour they were expending. A vote of thanks to the staff, moved by M>r J. A. Gibson and seconded by Mr J. B. Tait, was carried, the secretary, in the absence of the manager, acknowledging the compliment. Mr Tait moved to record a very hearty vote of thanks to the chairman and directors for the work accomplished. He knew from experience that the road of the directors was not always smooth and easy and in these days the “going” was exceptionally hard. He himself was not critical of their work when he raised certain questions but it always appeared to him to be a good thing to speak up in the meetings and not out of them. It was only by doing this that matters could be cleared up and he hoped they would all understand his view. The Tcr^ e xx Vas cari ‘i e d by acclamation, i\lr Hay accepting it on behalf of the board.

At the close of the meeting the “bonus” cheques were made available and satisfaction was expressed that the company was so financial that it could without difficulty meet the needs of suppliers. Tlie average payment for butter-fat was 9id per lb and it was hoped that realisations of unsold cheese would bring this up quite considerably as was the case last season. At a subsequent meeting of directors Mr A. Hay was unanimously-re-elected chairman for the ensuing year. HAT.LANCE VALLEY. In the curing room, at noon yesterday, shareholders of the Ballanee \ alley Co-operative Dairy Co., Ltd. met for the fifteenth annual meetmg, there being nine directors and suppliers present. Mr John H. vv indie, chairman of directors, presided. The annual report read: -bhe past season has been one of the most difficult ones for producers since tlie inception of the danw industry in New Zealand: prices for cheese reached the lowest level for over 30 years. There lias been a better tone at the close of the season. A large port ml) ot ou .r output is still unsold and some still remains to be shipped at date hereof. ■‘Your directors recommend payment to suppliers at the annual meeting of Id per lb on butter-fat supplied in February-, and 2d per lb on that supplied in March and April, any further distribution to be determined when cheese is all realised." T s —season ended 30th June, 1 Joo : Milk for cheesemaking 3,199,9.491b5, 145,8511bs butter-fat: butterseparated, 2591b5; average test, 4.0-5; cheese manufactured, "361 484 (k? (161 tons 18441b5) ; lbs millc to ilb cheese manufactured, S.Solbs - lbs cheese to lib butter-fat, 2 478 The chairman, in moving the adoption of the annual report and balance-sheet, said that last season ti ,} <? l,'o was » good increase in supplv, of 13,04<]bs of butter-fat, or nearly 14 tons of cheese. The average test was 4.55 as against 4.42 the prenous year. The number of lbs of nmk to make a. lb of cheese was 8 85 as against 8.97 tlie year before. The average yield on butter-fat had been as against 2.51 the previous year. The costs f.o.b. were 1.227 d, the costs the year before being i.340d. The company still had 101 crates in store not shipped. Altogether there were 374 crates unsold and for 586 crates) the account sales were not yet received. The balancesheet showed that the fuel account was much less last year owing to wood being cheaper. Mr L. H. Holdaway seconded the motion. No questions were forthcoming and Mr Holdaway remarked: “They all seem thoroughly satisfied Mr Chairman.” Mr F. W. Long: “What’s the use of growling about it?” Mr J. Call a nan : “When are you going to paint the show anyhow? For sure, tlie sparrows will be going through the middle soon.” Tlie chairman said it- was intended to paint- the exterior last year hut it was decided, instead, to give j tlie extra, money to the suppliers. I Mr Callanan : “A few bob for I paint will not be missed. We’ll have to _ start a working bee and each bring along a- pot of paint.” Mr F. W. Long conceded that the interior of tlie factory was much hotter than the outside appearance. Inside it was quite good. MV Callanan: “It is a. had advertisement for tlie district. When a visitor drives th rough and sees . Ballanee Valiev facto/? so dilapidated he thinks all the farmers in the district are broke.” The chairman; “He would not be far wrong.”

Mr Callanan: “What’s wrong? Are you getting the wind up?” He added that the chairman, at any rate, was one man who was not in the unhappy position of being “broke” or anything like it. The report and balance-sheet were adopted. The retiring director, Air AL. Edlin, was re-elected unopposed. Mr L. D. Lovelock, r'.C.S., was re-appointed auditor. The chairman said it was costing the company nearly £SO per annum to rim its hot water service which, several suppliers did not even use. It was a question whether it would not he wise to cut off the line steam supply. Air L. H. Holdaway considered it more advantageous lor each supplier j iave a water service at his shed. It would be .useful m so many ways and it might pay tlie companv to finance suppliers to instal sav chip heaters. Air Windle agreed that he had carted hot water home enough times and by the time he got there it was not hot enough to do any good with. Mr Long said it was never too cold for him. Mr Holdaway said there was no doubt that the time had come when the small struggling farmer found it hard to get along as he could not cut Ins costs much further. If the Government inflicted any further costs by way of new regulations the farmer would not be able to live. Reverting to the water problem Mr Holdaway thought that it any supplier wanted a chip heater and could not afford it the company should finance him. It was ascertained that only half the suppliers took hot water away from the factory and the other half did not use a great deal. The chairman advocated that the live steam be cut off. The manager (Mr H. Zeinert) drew attention to a regulation which makes it compulsory for every I firmer with milking machines to have a hot water service by his milking shed. Mr L. H. Holdaway moved that the company finance any supplier desirous of installing a ‘heater on his farm. This was seconded by .Mr P. McCarthy 'and lost narrowly. The question of further ventilating the curing room was broached by Mr Holdaway. The manager agreed that ventilators down low would be a great help. A fan as well would be an immense advantage. The matter was left to the directors.