MIDHIRST DAIRY CO.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXIX, Issue 130, 25 July 1911, Page 5

MIDHIRST DAIRY CO.

ANNUAL MEETING. ' The sixteenth annual meeting of shareholders of the Midhirst Co-opera-tive Dairy Factory Co. was held at the Midhirst Public Hall yesterday afternoon. Mr A. Brown, chairman of directors, presided, about two hundred shareholders being in attendance. CHAIRMAN’S ADDRESS. In moving the adoption of the report and balance sheet, Mr Brown said he had completed his seventh year as chairman of directors of the company. Things had changed since he first took the position, and everything went to show that the company was progressing. Seven years ago the output was about 290 tons, while this year it was 568 tons. This increase had been made without any increase in the number of creameries. The past season’s work appeared to have been successful, and he thought the factory was eighth on the list as regards grading. In the balance sheet there were no contingent liabilities, the shares in the freezing company and the box company having been paid off. Just lately they had disposed of forty acres of their farm, and ho thought they would get an excellent settlor in the man who had bought it. A good profit had boon made on the sale. They now held fifteen acres and the water-rights which were in mind when the farm was bought. As to shares, he thought the company was on as good a basis as any company on the coast. He felt sure that now the company could guarantee to return to departing shareholders a sum of fifteen shillings. He knew of cases where men had had to sell their shares for as, low as half a crown. The action of the company also had the effect of drawing people to the factory. It was proposed to open two new creameries—one at Tariki and the other at Waingongoro, both of which were in good districts. As a result of these two new creameries the business should increase to a great extent during the coming season. Ho thought farmers should pay more attention to their farms—if the farms were not more generously treated there would be trouble in view of the high price of land. He desired to see some better method of indenting manures. In the past, farmers had been rather dilatory, and he asked that for the coming season suppliers should lot the secretary know their requirements as early as possible. The adoption of the report and balance sheet was seconded by Mr Reesby, and was carried without discussion. ALLOTMENT OF SHARES. Mr W. Hathaway had given notice to move:—“That for the future shares

be allotted on the basis of the average of highest supply during the month, not on the week as hitherto.” He said that as lie was leaving the district he did not think ho should move in the matter; but the meeting insisted on him doing so. Mr 1 Hathaway briefly explained the motion, holding that the proposed course was fairer than the present. Mr Brown said ho recognised that the suggested plan was fair, but personally lie saw no good reason for a change. Ho thought it was hardly right to say that tne present system might result in suppliers being overloaded with shares. It had to he remembered that the factory had to provide plant and power to deal with the highest day’s milk, and to do so share capital was required. The company, however, was not out after the last penny, and if they were sold up ho was sure shareholders would get thirty shillings for every share held. Mr Cuthbert brought up the question of whether the motion was in older, and finally the Chairman ruled the motion out of order, holding that it was necessary to give notice of intention to rescind the previous rule on the matter. VOTING BY PROXY. Mr P. J. Peterson then moved, in accordance with notice, that voting by proxy be discontinued. Mr Brown read a letter from the company’s solicitor, Mr T. O. Fookes, who said that the matter could not be dealt with by means of an ordinary motion-—it was necessary to move to filter the Articles of Association. It might be very well to enntino the prohibition on prices, said Mr It own, to the annual general meeting, which Mr Fookes said could lie done. He suggested that Mr Peterson put a motion merely for the purpose 01 testing the feeling of the meeting. Mr Peterson agreed to this course. What ho wanted was to b-i/o people turn up in force at the annual meeting. At present, directors canvassed' shareholders for votes, and the shareholders did not attend the meeting. As a result, men went in as directors who canvassed fur votes, and not the men who liad the coniideuce of the shareholders. On a show of hands the chairman, declared lost a motion affirming the desirability of the change. Mr Peterson then gave no!ice to move that ‘he Articles of Association bo alter id in the on vet mu of abolish mg voting !>y pjoxy for the election af dbenvois. PLURAL VOJINC;

Mr Cuthbert said that while they wore altering the Ai f;cies of Ai-o.na-tion lie tvnirl like to see plural voting dene -mvay w’Dt , The Chairman said ho could not support such a movement. It did not seem to him to he fair that a man milking one cow and holding one share should have equal voting power with a man milking a hundred cows and hcldjng a large number of shares. It was unjust to have such a system. Mr Shotter said ho understood the one-man-one-vote system obtained in the Stratford, Lowgarth and Ngaire factories. Mr Cuthbert gave notice of motion on the point. INDEPENDENT TESTER. The Chairman said the company had been approached by the Stratford company with a view to appointing an independent tester. Ibis was nothing against the Midhirst manager. Some years, ago Midhirst moved in the matter, with a' view to gettng two or three factories to co-operate in the appointment of a tester, h.xt the movement was dropped owing to the opposition of Stratford New the Stratford company desired to cooperate with Midhirst. A good factory manager can bo bettor employed in ether work instead of festi rg. The managers wore frequently bothered by people regarding their tests which w'asted a good deal of time. The correct why was to let the manager make money for the company with his hands. The proposed appointment would be highly advisable on the score of economy. He thought £2OO would have to bo guaranteed by the tw'O companies. The gentleman appointed would, no loubt, carry on private testing, which would, of course, increase his renurivafion. Mr Cuthbert said Mr Iv Iceman should be relieved of some of ids duties, in view of the two new' creameries. Another supplier said lie could not see how tire manager oou’u supply tests for individual cow's. The Chairman said there was not enough testing done at the factory, hut more and more testing was being asked for. Mr Kleeman (manager) said he thought a test every ten days was quite satisfactory, though suppliers seemed to look for the time when there wmuld ho a daily test. Ho was desirous of being relieved of the testing. The Chairman, in reply to a sr pplier, said he understood the tester would ho hound to do any private herd testing he w'as asked to do. It was decided, cn the motion of the Chairman, to appro.-e the appointment of 'a te-stoi in conjunction with other companies. THE DAIRY DIVISION. The Chairman introduced to til3 meeting Mr Fulton, representative of the Dairy Division, and asked Hu fc make a few lemarks on Ins werk. Mr Fulton said that several people in the district seemed to regard him as an inspector who was aotagouotic to them, wdrereus lie was merely rime to instruct them. He had had experience in farm og and i onl-d sjasak to farmers in a practical manner. He had seen a great deal of things which were worthy of praise, and also some things wdiich called for condemnation. There were many farms in the district which had earned hundreds of pounds which were left in a neglected condition. The Chairman said some sheds were very difficult to work owing to their bad state. A vote of thanks was passed to Mr Fulton. ELECTION OF DIRECTORS. An election for four positions on the directorate, three vacated by rotation and one by the rosiguatic u of Mr Hathaway, resulted in the return of Messrs. Brown, Rogers, Ulilenherg, and Jago. CHAIRMAN OK DIRECTORS At a suhesoqneat meeting of directors, Mr A. Brown was re-mecD'd chairman. AUDIT *R. Mr T. H I*oixir was re-elected auditor.