MIDHIRST DAIRY CO.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXVI, Issue 71, 29 July 1913, Page 3

MIDHIRST DAIRY CO.

THE ANNUAL MEETING

The annual meeting of shareholders in the Midhirst Co-operative Dairy Co. was held in the Midhirst Public Hall yesterday, the hall being crowded. Mr W. Skedgewell occupied the chair. • '■ ' >■

REPORT AND BALANCE-SHEET

in- moving that the report and bal-ance-sheet be adopetd, the Chairman said the Company had had a most successful year, producing more butter and securing a better re ami to suppliers. Over 700 tons of butter had been made, the average return to suppliers being 12.56 d. A pleasant feature of the figures was that they showed that a similar area to last year was giving the substantial increase. At the beginning of the season prospects .looked bright for open consignment, and the directors <lecided to send open consignments from September to January and soTd the February to May output at 12Jd net. The market for the months when the output was consigned was not quite up to expectations, but on tho whole the season had been a successful one. Since die last annual meeting the directors had decided to manufacture casein at the main factory, and they had been successful in turning out a first-grade article, which was sold on contract to the Aramoho Casein Co. at l}d net on butter-fat to those who supplied milk for that purpose, and the Aramoho Co. paying the working expenses. The directors had also gone considerably into the store business, and this had evidently been appreciated by the suppliers. The turnover at the store since it opened in November last was £3150 14s 7d. In conclusion he stated that the manager had his buildings and machinery in good order for the forthcoming season. >

The report and balance-sheet were dopted after a short discussion.

VOTING BY PROXY

Mr L. Baskin moved in accordance with notice: "That the following new article be, and the same is hereby adopted as Article 14a of the Company's amended Articles of Association: 14a Article 68 of Table A is hereby excluded and the following substituted : Votes ! may be given either personally or by proxy, excepting in connection with the election of directors, when all votes must be given personally.'- •:■ Mr Baskin said the proxy system prevented the best men coming forward as directors. The system led 1 tor ninny''abuses; The proxies were passed from hand to hand, and ne had even known of them being sold.

1 ' Mr Pedersen seconded the motion. -'He said'that many shareholders'were not really'a\Vafe l what , the giving of proxies irfeahtJ. ; Some seemed to think f that'the "proxies applied only to the election of directors; but the fact was that the proxies covered the voting on all questions at the annual-meeting .ilid f m :, *some cases''they "covered the whole of the year. Personally ho did not think proxies were meant at all "lor a co-operative concern. As things stood at present the directors might come to a uecision or any sort, ana ''Vy 'proxy votes might carry ft through, 'those who had given proxies being precluded from having any Voico-'in-' the .matter. If the meeting voted solid in fa\or of the motion they Would have done a good lav's work.

Mr Renrick thought everybdoy should bo able to spare a day to come to the annual meeting. \t might be arranged that those unable to be present could vote at their • creameries. He did not favor proxy voting. Tlie Chairman said he was in favor of tho motion. ' ■• ;

The motion was carried, 105 voting for it, and only threo'. against it.

INCREASE OF CAPITAL

The Chairman moved: That the capital of the Company be further increased to tho amount of £13,000 b\ the creation of additional capital to the amount of £3OOO divided into three thousand shares of £1 each, such shares to be issued as ordinary shares, ranking as to dividend and as to distribution of capital in a* winding-up pari passu with the ordinary shares in the existing capital of the Company."

- The Chairman said shares were urgently wanted for allotment.

Mr Reesby- seconded and the motion was carried. , r! ■ ',-' AUDITOR RE-ELECTED.

Mr T. H. Penn was re-elected audi-

PLURAL VOTING

Mr Cuthbert gave notice to move at next annual meeting that plural voting 1)9 dono Uway with.

ELECTION OF DIRECTORS

The voting for directors resulted is follows S. Ferguson 299 M. M. Knox 233, H. A. Rumball 391, W. Skedgewell 635, A. Uhlenberg 412. W. J. Wellington 619, J. Weston 251. Messrs Skedgewell, Wellington, Uhienberg and Rumball were declared dec-ted;

At a subsequent meeting of directors Mr Skedgewell was re-elected chairman. SUPPLY OF CASEIN.

Mr Vickerman, representing the Yramoho Casein Co., addressed the iTieeting en the question of supplying casein. Ho said that it was about two years since he had first spoken to shareholders on the question. At that time'-the industry was in its infancy and tho casein company had to idapt Old World practices to New Zealand farming. Tho Midhirst suppliers had come in on tho end of a season, ■ind it would bo well if they kept it on for a further year so that they -•ould really judge of the merits of tho scheme. The casein company id'd made great strides, and the out-

look for tho coming season was very good. Tho casein company were quite

prepared to make to the Midhirst directors an offer "similar to the one made last year. Mr Petersen, of the Department of Agriculture, had been sent to Denmark to enquire as to the casein business. He was to have addressed the meeting on the question, but was at present suffering from vaccinaiton. Mr Vickerman went on to state that there was a large and increasing demand for casein.

Mr Baskin said his calves had done well on the casein whey. Mr Kenrick asked how old Mr Baskin's calves were'. They might have been well matured when they were started on the casein whey. Mr Shotter said ho had taken pigs off tho mother straight on to casein whey, and they had done well. He agreed with Mr Kenrick that they could not really judge on last season's oxperienoe, as the calves were well advanced. They should give the whey a trial on young calves in the coming season.

Mr Vickerman announced that a prize of two guineas was to be given at the Taranaki A. and P. Society's Show for the best casein-whey-fed calf. A certain time of feeding on sweet milk would be allowed, and if added food was used the calf most cheaply raised would get the prize..

In reply to a question, the Chairman said that the cost of casein plants installed would have to be borne by those supplying 'for casein.

HERD-TESTING

Mr S. McKenzie spoke on similar lines to his -remarks at the Stratford meeting, and quoted the following figures in reference to Midhirst herds : —Average Association cow 226.04, the best herd averaged 311.44 (20 cows), the'worst herd averaged 171.14 (21 cows), the ten best herds averaged 285.20, the ten worst herds averaged 172.64, the best cow gave 449.59, the worst cow gave 81.24, the ten best cows averaged 416.20, the ten worst cows averaged 105.05. In reply to a question, Mr McKenzie said that it was his opinion that farmers would do better if they had fewer cows and took more care with them.