MIDHIRST DAIRY COMPANY

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXIX, Issue 82, 28 July 1914, Page 7

MIDHIRST DAIRY COMPANY

ANNUAL MEETING. There was a large attendance of shareholders at the annual meeting of shareholders of the Midhirst Dairy Co., held at the Midhirst Hall yesterday, Mr W. Skedgwell, chairman of directors, presiding. REPORT AND BALANCE-SHEET In moving the adoption of the report and balance-sheet, the chairman pointed out that the output had been a record one, exceeding fast year’s figures by 100 tons, and what would be more pleasing to the suppliers was that the Company had paid out a reprice for fat, the average being 12,GGd. They were, he said, fortunate in selling the whole output last ‘reason, thereby avoiding any loss that no doubt had occurred on consignment butter through the strike, although they were put to some slight expense, £l5B 4s 2d, through having to rail their butter to Wellington, and a levy of 1-1 Od on the October butter fat. To his idea the pleasing feature of the balance-sheet was the large increase shown in the output. This pointed out very clearly the improved methods in farming both by top dressing and utilising a better class of stock. He felt confident that this increase would continue now that suppliers had seen its value. The directors had found it necessary to purchase a section ot land with two cottages for the sum of £2OO. The office had been shifted on to this section and they had built a cottage for the secretary, the whole costing £G37 18s lOd. The 3 cottages were rent-producing. The output had increased so rapidly during two season, that they were compelled to close down the factory to enable tlie manager u enlarge the buildings, widen wore ms together with plant and machines up to date again and capable of turn ing out a much larger output. To p'/t. duco a good article this enlarging w; absolutely necessary. He strongly in; pressed on them that nothing but ' first-class butter would command tiu

highest price.. They could not be too careful as to quality, ■ and he urged one and all to assist the manager bj supplying nothing but good sound milk, unless they were prepared to accept a lower pnco for their butter. They had paid out the sum of £9GB 7s od, equal to id ou butter to those suppliers whc left their milk for casein. That was free of all expense to the company. Mr Reesby seconded the motion.

Mr Kendrick drew attention to the item in the balance-sheet of profit on stores. He thought that the profit should be divided in some manno; among those who patronised the store. Personally he die! not use the store and he did not think he was entitled no any of the profit, i Mr Shotter thought the whole of tin shareholders should share the profit as they found the money to run it. Mr Kendrick said an endeavor should be made to run the business on larger lines. Tlte secretary (Mr R. J. Hogg) sahl that if Mr Kendrick’s idea was carried out it would mean opening a new sm of books and keeping a man to lookafter the business, and the company could not at present afford that. Ah.

it would be unwise to do anything ui til they knew what the Farmers’ C operative Organisation would do. II believed the Organisation would lie success.

Mr Kendrick said lie was quite sati cd with the explanation given. The moton was carried. VALEDICTORY.

Mr A. Brown, who had occupied tin position of chairman of directors for cloven years, addressed a few word, to the meeting. He said that lie hac . always had pleasure in meeting tin shareholders of the company. Ho do sired to give some warnings. One tiling was that the meetings seemed to be conducted with too much levity. Th shareholders met to discuss their bro.ic and butter,-, and all speakers should he given a good hearing, otherwise they might miss something good Ik might have to say. There was also a disposition to run men for the directorate “for fun.” That was no way to do their business. Shareholders should roll up to 'meetings in force, though that day’s meeting was a very full one. Any man who was elected to the directorate should make up his mind to study the dairy produce business. He knew of some directors who would not move off their farms to attend a conference or any meeting in connection with the industry. The industry was in a state of transition and dairy factory directors would need to keep quite abreast of the times. As to the Company’s store, it should either he on a larger or a smaller scale —it was not as satisfactory as possible at-present. The increase in the factory’s output was satisfactory, but they were not yet at high water mark —far from it.' There were some pastures which were not so pood as possible and some which could ho cleaner. ■ He was leaving Taranaki for health reasons, and not because he did not think tiie country good enough. He was sure that nowhere else in the country could a farmer depend so well on the season. In Taranaki a farmer could pretty well tell how his operations would turn out every year. There could hardly lie a more dependable climate in New Zealand. Mr Shotter moved time a vote of thanks be passed to Mr Brown for his services to tlio company during the eighteen years he had been on the directorate. He doubted if the company could ever have a better chairman, as Mr Brown had always kept himself abreast of all new movements in the industry. Tl 10 motion was carried with acclamation. , Mr Brown responded shortly. ONE MAN ONE VOTE In accordance with notice, Mr T. Cuthbert moved: “That article 14 of the Company’s amended Articles of Association be deleted and the following substituted therefor: Upon a poll every member shall have one vote only irrespective of the number of shares held by him.” Mr Cuthbert said that the Stratford company ami several others had done; away with plural voting. Mr West seconded. Mr Baskin thought motion was (only a “dodge” to got somebody on j i the directorate. The mover anid I seconder must bo rank Socialists—| i Mio motion would take away the big ! farmers’ property and give it to the; 1 sir'll! farmer. Air F. Peterson asked what benefit the company had received by plural , --a!i-ig. Me li.’.d been told that J there were several “duffers” on the i-directorate at present. How did they •'<t there? Wore they put there by; plural voting or by single votes? | Mr Kendrick said there might be i mrff'u-s on the directorate but all tlio same it was a good directorate. Tlio motion was lost by a big ranjoritv. GENERAL. I Air T. H, 'Penn was re-appointed auditor. Messrs J. Jago, W. Bogan am? H. *

A. Rumball retired from the diroctor'ate by rotation, and they were nomiinated for re-election, Messrs M. Knox and J. Per ham being also nominated. A ballot resulted in tho re-election of the retiring directors.

Mr W. Skedgwell was re-elected chairman of directors. Mr E. Kirkwood moved a vote of thanks to tho Tariki and Maketawa factories for taking milk from suppliers during the time the Midhirst factory was closed.—ihe motion was carried, . Mr Roeshy moved, and Mr \\icksteed seconded that the secretary be relieved of paying rent for the cottage be occupied.—Mr Kendrick said that if tho secretary was entitled to £3O a year more it should be paid as salary.—After a short discussion the motion was dithdrawn, and the question was referred to tho directors. Mr Baskin brought up the matter of the proposed toll-gate at Waipuku. He thought the directors should pay at least three-quarters of the cost incurred by shareholders as a result of the erection of the toll-gate.—-Mr Kendrick said only .four suppliers were affected, but they had stood to the company when opposition opened, and the "company should now stand to them on this question.—The matter was referred to tho directors. Mr Knox moved that in order to let shareholders know how the bnriness was getting on. the secretary supply to the “Stratford Evening Post” a digest of the business at meetings or directors, the secretary to exorcise discretion as to what information should bo supplied.—Mr Goessi seconded.—Mr Kendrick thought the motion interfered too greatly with the directors. The secretary would, no doubt, supply to the .).-eW all necessary information.—The don was lost.

Mr Vickerman, representing the aVw Zealand Casein Co., addressed he meeting. He said that his com- ; my wished the Midhirst company to take over control of the plant and -,o enter into a contract with his company for the supply of casein. He thought that soon Midhirst would have a small drying plant of its own. His company proposed in future to pay out on gallonage of milk instead

of on test, it having been found that the casein in the milk did not vary much with the test.

Mr Weston brought up the question of having a sheet to be kept by suppliers in order that they might have the amount of their milk put down every day. On the sheet there should also he a column in which hutter supplied to shareholders could he entered.—The Chairman said that if suppliers brought books, the manager would write in the amount of milk supplied. But in several cases suppliers forgot to bring their books daily, and when they brought their books they wanted a whole week’s supply entered. —Mr Christianson said the cards had been used at Stratford. They had been successful and had not been any trouble to the man on the weighing stage.