DAIRYING INDUSTRY

Southland Times, Issue 19335, 29 August 1924, Page 8

DAIRYING INDUSTRY

FACTORY MEETINGS IN SOUTHLAND

THE OUTLOOfc FOR THE COMING SEASON.

WOODLANDS. FACTORY SHAREHOLDERS. ANNUAL MEETING. The annual meeting of the shareholders of the Woodlands Dairy Factory Company was held yesterday afternoon in the Woodlands Hall, when Mr John Caird, Chairman of Directors, presided. REPORT. The money paid out to suppliers for milk for the season amounted to £21,140 2/2. The quantity of milk received into the factory continues to increase.

Owing to the rapid fluctuations in the market for cheese during the season, your directors have found it a difficult problem to deal with the season’s output. October cheese was sold at 9fd, April make at 8 Ad, while the balance of the output has been shipped on consignment, the prices realised for the lots sold varying from 82/- to 92/- c.i.f. Account sales for 1324 cases have still to come to hand. During the season electric light has been installed in the factory and residence. A new separator and motor power has also been installed. The work of the factory has been carried out satisfactorily and smoothly, and your directors have pleasure in stating that Mr A. Harper has been retained as manager for the coming season. Your directors recommend the payment of a dividend of 5 per cent, on the paidup capital of the company. One pound of cheese takes 10.301bs milk, and one lb but-ter-fat produces 2.741bs of cheese. CHAIRMAN’S ADDRESS. In opening the meeting the Chairman said they had sold last year’s September-Oc-tober cheese at 9gd, but lately, they were forced to consign and some of that was sold at prices ranging from 82/- to 92/-. There were still about 1,300 crates to sell. They had sold some of the back end cheese at 8 id, which was a good sale. They had paid out 1/6 for the season, and when the balance of the cheese was sold they expected to be able to pay a little more. For the coming season they had sold the Sep-tember-October output at BJd, and he hoped they would be able to sell at that price throughout the season. The factory was in first-class order, and was at present one of the best in Southland. During the season three motors and a separator had been installed, and the saving warranted the expenditure. Their thanks were due to Mr Harper for the economical way that the factory had been conducted, and the high grade cheese manufactured.— (Applause). They had trouble with the pollution of the creek and had been with two notices by the Health Department. They were also threatened with legal proceedings. They had made arrangements to have the whey treated instead of paying 10/- a day to have it carted away. They had sold the whey at a figure which would bring in £250, as- well as saving £lOO in cartage. In connection with the raising of the grade, it was recommended that two farm dairy instructors be appointed for Southland. The cost to the factories would be £1270 for the first year, and that amount would have to be taken out of the cows. The inspectors were appointed to look after the farmer, and instruct him with regard to milking machines. The levy would be 2/6 per ton of cheese for the first year, and about 1/10 for subsequent seasons. It meant more expense for the farmer and he would like to hear an expression of opinion on it. Before moving the adoption of the report and balance-sheet, he referred to the good work done by their secretary, Mr F. G. Smith, who had carried out his duties efficiently. . A supplier asked further particulars about the installation of the motors, and was informed that the motors had saved the company £33 in the fuel bill since the installation.

Three directors were required and the election resulted as follows: John Sadlier 313 W. H. Bonney 256 John H. Quelch 231 A. Frew 160 The three first named were retiring directors, and were declared elected. Mr G. Featherstone was re-elected auditor. It was decided to open the factory on Monday, September 1. DAIRY FARM INSTRUCTORS. The chairman said a recommendation had been carried at a meeting in Invercargill, asking for the appointment of two farm instructors for Southland. At that meeting Mr W. M. Singleton had said an inspector could handle 500 suppliers, who would have to find about £5OO a year as their share of the expense. The instructor was supposed to go round those people whose milk was not up to standard, and ascertain the reason why the milk was inferior. The appointments would mean a levy of about 1/10 per ton, and already they had many calls on their finances. He would like an expression of opinion on the matter. Mr M. Timpany said their grade had been from 90 to 91, so it could not effect their grading very much. It was time the suppliers had a look round and studied what was going on, otherwise they would be carrying all sorts of expenses on their backs. These expenses were all coming out of the butter-fat. Surely there was some cheaper method of getting the work of the instructors done than that suggested. Suppliers were concerned about the fuel accounts and other small items, but they never studied what was going out in other directions. There was too much overlapping. The remarks about the instructors were more applicable to butter factories than cheese. They were paying the money and unless they were careful the milk suppliers would be left to carry the baby.— (Applause). Mr J. Middlemiss said the suppliers were paying enough already. If they gave their manager more power and backing, so that he could grade the milk, there would be no need for instructors. They should put more faith in their manager and the grade of milk would soon improve, so that it would all be suitable for cheese making. It only required the directors to stand behind the manager and assure him that he would not be turned out of his, job if he returned milk. The Chairman: Unfortunately, human nature is always the same, and the manager would soon be unpopular. Mr Timpany: Why run to the Government with all our complaints, when the suppliers can see to them ? The Chairman: We have been told that a rise in grade is necessary to hold our markets, as Canada is improving her grade. If we pay 1/10 per ton, it might be nothing compared with the benefits we receive. The manager has always had a free hand with regard to accepting milk. Mr Schmidt: How much second-grade cheese was manufactured in Southland last year? The Chairman: 1.7 per cent, but Mr Singleton appeared to doubt the figures as being absolutely correct. Mr Schmidt: There is no need for an instructor.

Mr Middlemiss: I am prepared to have my milk returned at any time. Suppliers would soon improve the milk if it were sent back once or twice.

Mr D. Dickie: Sometimes milk, which appears good on the stage, goes bad after being put in the vat. A Voice: Then how would the instructor detect it? Mr A. Harper (manager), said the managers were against the raising of the grade to 90. With regard to the instructors it was proposed to appoint one for the Western and one for the Eastern Districts. The appointment of instructors was a move along the right lines, as it would improve the quality of the milk on the farm. The instructor, as soon as he noticed inferior milk, would visit the farm, and help the farmer to produce better quality. It was one of the best schemes ever adopted in New Zealand. He was in aggreement with other speakers when they stated that too much expense was being placed on the fanner. He was positive that the dairy instructor would do more for the industry than any Board. Mr Timpany said he was not against the appointment of instructors, but the overlapping whigh occurred on every hand. They paid levies to the Control Board, Dairy Association, Department of Agriculture, and others, and these levies could easily be paid by one Department. The overhead charges were killing the industry. They should pay into one Department only and not have so many different calls. When the Control Board was set up they were told that the other Associations would fall flat, but they still had the hardest part of the work to do, that was eliminating unnecessary bodies. There was no reason why the Control Board should not pay all charges out of the levy collected by them. This. woula bring all their levies under one head and cut out any overlapping. This course would be better even if the Board’s levy were increased. With butter-fat at 1/6 they could not stand it. Mr Middlemiss: The expense of an instructor could be avoided if fanners kept their milk clean.

A vote on the subject was taken, and only three voted in favour of an instructor.

MATAURA FACTORY, ANNUAL MEETING. THE SEASON’S OUTLOOK (From our Correspondent.) The annual meeting of shareholders of the Mataura Dairy Factory Company Ltd. was held in the Oddfellows Hall, Mataura, on Wednesday. The Chairman of Directors (Mr Robert Mcßride) presided over an attendance of 25. After the minutes of the last annual meeting had been read and confirmed the Chairman said there was one small matter arising out of the minutes. He referred .to the matter of gravelling of the .. road leading to the factory. They would have preferred metal, but it was too costly. THE CHAIRMAN’S REMARKS. The annual report and balance sheet (already published) were taken as read, and in moving their adoption, the Chairman said it was usual to congratulate shareholders on the success of the season. The season would have been much more successful had they kept going as they started at 94d for the cheese. It was not their fault, however, as the buyers wouljd not come forward. They did their best, and the season has been as successful as was experienced by any other factory in Southland. During the season they had paid out Is 7d per lb for butter-fat. Last year they started off with a debit balance of £4530, and this year the debit was £2BOO, which was very satisfactory. For the incoming season they did not know how they would get on, but they had started off by selling at B£cL It depended upon the purchasing power at Home and they looked for better conditions for the consumer at Home. The men who had gone to the Old Country should come back with some good information regarding marketing. Farm instructors would be going round to teach the farmers how to keep their milk. The Government would pay half their salaries and the factories would find the rest. Mr A. Stevenson seconded the motion.

A little discussion ensued regarding the balance sheet, and several questions were asked and satisfactorily answered, and the motion was put to the meeting and carried. DIRECTORS RE-ELECTED.

The retiring directors, Messrs A. Stevenson and H. Wright were re-elected. The Chairman stated that Mr Stevenson was one of the founders of the company, and both he and Mr Wright were men of good, sound judgment. Mr A. Stevenson, in returning thanks, said that it was 28 years since he was first elected to the directorate. They had always got on well, and on behalf of the shareholders he never had more pleasure in working with the men they had put in as directors. They had their differences but always did their best, and would always do their duty to the shareholders and the factory. Mr Wright said he did not intend to stand again, but he was asked by the directors, and he decided to carry on until the bond was liquidated. He always voted in the best interests of the suppliers, and he would do his best for the benefit of the factory and suppliers. Mr Frank Young, Gore, was re-elected auditor. OTHER MATTERS. Mr R. Kilpatrick referred to the Chairman’s honorarium, which was £2O. This amount he considered inadequate for the duties involved, and he moved that it be raised to £5O. Mr M. Dickie in seconding the motion referred to the vast amount of work the Chairman had put in. Messrs T. Major, A. Stevenson, R. Pryde, John Taylor, A. M. Robertson and A. Coombes all spoke in support of the motion, tne latter being of the opinion that the matter should be left to the directors to decide the amount of the honorarium. The Chairman considered it an honour to work for the suppliers. The Cool Stores Chairman’s honorarium was fixed by the directors. He appreciated the shareholders’ spirit and kind remarks. The secretary then put the motion to the meeting which was carried unanimously. Mr R. Pryde referred to the opening of the factory for toe season. Last year they started with 500 gallons every second day. The manager (Mr D. M. McDonald) said it was not advisable to run every second day. It was decided that as soon as sufficient cows come in and the suppliers notify the •Chairman, factory manager or the secretary the factory will open. A few other matters of'detail were discussed.

The Chairman moved a hearty vote of thanks to the factory manager and staff for the manner in which they had carried out their duties. A good deal of the success of the factory was due to them. The motion was carried by acclamation. Mr McDonald, in acknowledging the compliment, said it was pleasing to know that the work of himself and staff was appreciated, and it was an incentive to keep on. On the motion of Mr R. Pryde, a vote of thanks was accorded to the directors for the way they had carried out their duties on behalf of the shareholders. A vote of thanks to the chair terminated the meeting.

Season. Milk. Butter-fat. lbs. lbs. 1921-22 .. .. 6,036,872 217,812 1922-23 .. .. 6,780,384 243,410 1923-24 .. .. 6,990,230 248,037