THE DAIRY INDUSTRY.

Taranaki Daily News, 27 July 1922, Page 8

THE DAIRY INDUSTRY.

THE OKATO-PUNIHO COMPANY, SEVENTEENTH ANNUAL MEETING. The seventeenth annual meeting of the Okato-Puniho Dairy Counpanj- was held at; the Hempton Hall, Okato, yesterday morning, when Mr. J. Wooldridge (chairman of directors) presided over an attendance of about 50 suppliers. The report stated: The season has been a remarkable one as far as production Is concerned, the following tables of quantities show a large increase over the previous years. The Quantities and averages of the three factories for cheese-making were:— Milk—Okato, 5,562,320; Puniho, 4,020,766 ; Leith. 2.782,904 ; total, 12,365,990. Butter-fat.—Okato, 213,849 ; Puniho, 159,778; Leith, 109,160; total. 482,787. Cheese made.—Okato, 593,807 ; Puniho, 432,412: Leith, 297.827; total, 1.324,046. Milk to cheese.—Okato, 9.36; Puniho; 9.29; Leith, 9.34 : average, 9.33. Yield.—Okato, 2.77; Puniho, 2170; Leith, 2.72; average. 2.74. Average test.—Okato. 3.84; Puniho, 3.97; Leith, 3.92: average, 3.9. Butter was made during June, 1921, and April and May, 1922. 1,883,7T71b5. milk, in addition to cream purchased:, were used in but-ter-making; the butter-fat received was 90,5281b5.. making 108.7831b5. butter, an overrun of 20.16 per cent. 591 tons of cheese, 48% tons of creamery butter, and 17% tons of whey butter were unade, compared with last season 488% tons cheese, 3 tons creamery butter, and 18 tons of whey butter. Table of quantities and averages compared with last season’s, which are given in parentheses: Number of suppliers. 65 (50); milk received. 14.249.76>71b5. (10,218,9031-bs.) ; butter-fat, 573,315!h5. .596,2001b5.) ; cheese I made. 1,324.0461b5. (1,094,4311b5.) ; lbs. milk [ per lb. cheese, 9.331b5. (9.331b5.) ; lbs. cheese • per lb. butter-fat, 2.741b5. (2.761b5.) ; average ' ! test, 3.98 per cent. (3.87 per cent.) ; averi age grade, cheese. 91.50 (91.25) ; average grade ‘ whey butter, 90.34 (89.94) ; creamery butter, 90.77 (_). THE CHAIRMAN’S ADDRESS. In moving the adoption of the report and balance-sheet, the -chairman stated that during the past few years the chairman had had to congratulate suppliers on record pay-outs, but this year he regretted to say that the pay-out tvas the lowest that they had ever had since they had gon.? in for cheese-making. At the beginning of the season they had anticipated better prices, but they had dropped much lower than was expected. The season had been a reimarkahle one in the way that prices had fluctuated. Although prices had been low, this had been somewhat compensated for by the fact that the milk supply had increased by over 4.000,000 pounds, or over 40 per cent. In fact, the supply had been a record, being 627,000 lbs. more than the previous best year (1914). The increase in butter-fat had been 46 per cent. The suppliers had increased during the year by 15. and were now the same as in tlie highest previous year, viz. 65. The test also had increased. This was somewhat unusual, considering the extra quantity of milk, the year having been a good one both for quantity and quality. The average grade had also gone up from 90.25 to 90.50. being exceptionally good throughout the year; in fact, only about 15 crates had been second grade. The whey butter had also been of excellent grade, being 90.34. The creamery butter for winter make had also been very good. Referring to the balance-sheet, he said that 276 shares had been allotted and £443 paid up in share capital. There were still 882 shares surrendered or purchased by the company, and not re-alk)tted. but they would probably he taken up by new suppliers or by readjusting shares during the coming season. Despite the huge increase in the dairy produce handled, the cost of running the factory for the season had only Increased by £147 4s 6d. and the cost of 'manufacture had heen reduced from 2.2 d tn 1.71 d. showing that al] care and economy had been exercised in running the factory. Regarding the prospects of the coming season, he said that it was difficult to know whether butter nr .cheese was going to be the best proposition, but they were now in a position to manufacture either butter nr cheese, whichever was likely to pay the fetter. The directors considered that butter would probably be the better proposiTn connection with shipping freights, he said that as the result of considerable nego- ] tiations they had been reduced, but they did j not consider freights were low enough yet, and 1 representations were being made with a view ! to further reductions. So far as shipping generally was concerned, it had been far from satisfactory, particularly for cheese. In fact, the last cheese made during March had just been shipped. He briefly touched on the matter of testing, remarking that any supplier having complaints in this connection should approach the directorate, who would have the complaints inquired into. His experience, however, had been that the manager was most careful and conscientious in this matter. The question of testing had heen exercising the minds of those interested in the industry throughout the Dominion, and an Act based on the “Ontario Act” was now being drafted and should effect an improvement. The minds of directors had been exercised over the. question of some improved method of marketing their produce. The pooling scheme had been discussed, but had heen killed by the South Island. The proposal now was monthly auction sales, hut personally he did. not think these would be- a success In inducing extra competition. It" would be all right, if the sales were held on the Home market and this he considered the solution of the difficulty. , Mr. Lawn thought that monthly auction . .sales should be a success. They had proved so with wool. Mr. Hrant considered that there was no analogy between wool and dairy produce, and the man who thought that monthly auction sales of dairy produce would prove equally successful was like “a ship at sea without In concluding, the chairman paid a tribute to the loyal support given by the directors during a very difficult year. He also made eulogistic reference to the work of the manager (Mr. S. B. Hall) and staff, and also of the secretary (Mr. R. Pepperell). He then moved the adoption of the report. This was seconded by Mr. Larking. THE DISCUSSION. Mr. W. J. Gray said, with reference to shipping, that they were ‘old by the Harbor Board that the wharf was congested by shipping. How was it. then, that their produce did not get away? The chairman pointed out that the Harbor Boaro 'lid not control the shipment of produce : in fact. Home liners had come to New Plymouth to load frozen meat and butter, and that cheese had afterwards been sent in coastal vessels to Wellington to be loaded on the same liners. A good deal of congestion at the wharf was due to benzine boats, etc. Mr. Gray said that it was time all their produce was shipped direct from New Plymouth without the payment of the coastal freight. The Harbor Board would probably be asking ratepayers for another loan, and unless they had something to show the ratepayers would vote against it. Some discussion took place on the balancesheet, especially in regard to the system of pay-out. Mr. Larking considered that the pay-out should in future be paid out monthly on the actual amount received for the produce each month, instead of averaging over the whole season. He did not consider it fair that the man who grew feed and produced milk during the winter when butter was sold at a high price should have to the same price as the man who produced milk in September, when the pastures came on. The chairman pointed out that this would be feasible in the. event of the butter being sold, but if the produce was consigned there would be a difficulty. After a little further discussion the report was adopted. ELECTION OF DIP.ECTORS. For the vacancy on the directorate caused by the retirement by rotation of Mr. J. J. Carey there were three nominations, viz., Messrs. J. J. Carey, P, McCabe, and VV. J.

Larking, and the election resulted in the return of Mr. Carey. e Mr. E. P. Webster was re-elected auditor. The chainman's honorarium was fixed at the same as last year, viz., £75, Mr. W. J. Gray speaking in eulogistic terms of the time and interest taken by the chairman In the affairs of the company. . The directors were also voted £ 1 per meeting, as last year. HERD TESTING. ... Mr. W. J. Larking stressed the necessity for establishing a Herd-Testing Association. All would agree that they must use every endeavor to increase their production. At a low estimate 2000 cows were milked by the company’s suppliers, and he thought the proposal could be carried out at 2s to 3s per The secretary explained that at the Bell Block factory they had such an association, where the companj’ provided the use of the testing machines and the acid, and the tester, an independent -man. charged 2s per cow for testing. He pointed out that probably only half the cows would be tested. Mr. W. Grant did not think there wtis much in individual testing. All that was required was a good average herd. The difficulty was to keep the herd up. The secretary said that if the robber cows were weeded out the average would improve. Mr. W. I. Gray said that it was no use talcing the matter up unless they did it thoroughly. There was no doubt it would pay to do it thoroughly, as there was no question but that a. lot of cows were being milked that should be sent to the boiling down works. It certainly paid to know the robber cows. They had taken the matter up once, but gwing to shortage nf labor due to the war they had to drop it. Mr. Larking moved that the directors be recommended to go into the matter of herdtesting. and that if sufficient inducement is offered steps be taken to form a Herd-Testing Association. This was seconded by Mr. Jfc.Cabe. Several suppliers pointed out that there was considerable difficulty in the way of taking samples and weighing the .milk. After further discussion Mr. Larking-with-drew his motion, and a committee consisting of Messrs. W. Larking. E. Larking and Hill was appointed to bring down a report. GENERAL. After some discussion it was resolved that the directors be recommended to take into consideration the establishment of a backsmith’s shop in connection with the factory. Mr. Larking moved that the factory pay out for each month’s output as near as possible what is received for the produce, less working expenses. This was seconded bj’ Mr. R. B. Gray. Mr. W. J. Gray moved in the direction of dividing thd pay-out into two periods, one covering the months of May. June, July and August and the other the Balance of the season. Mr. W. Binnie seconded. Mr. J. Grant was opposed to the proposal. On the principle of co-operation they should make the pay-out average over the whole season. The amendment was carried. The chairman stated that as the season had been an abnormal one from the viewpoint of supply, it had been decided only to allot half the shares that suppliers would otherwise have been entitled to take ftp. It was stated that the branch factories wouoid re-open on August 1. During the luncheon adjournment light re*

freshments were dispensed by a committee of ladies, courtprislne Mesdames J. Wooldridge, S. B. Hall. I’. McCabe, and Miss D. Corbett, and prior to the conclusion of the meeting they were accorded a hearty vote of thanks.