BROOKLANDS DAIRY CO.

Taranaki Daily News, 18 July 1929, Page 9

BROOKLANDS DAIRY CO.

RECORD PRODUCTION SHOWN. THIRTEEN YEARS OF PROGRESS. The thirteenth annual meeting of the .Brooklands Co-operative Dairy Company was held at Puniho Road yesterday. Mr. G. Goodwin, chairman of directors, presided over a good attendance of shareholders. The output of cheese increased 42 tons, 214 per cent, over the previous year’s figures, stated the report. The gross weight of cheese made was 237 tons'4 cwt. 221 b. The milk dealt with totalled 4,932,635 lb., containing 201,8401 b. of butter-fat, making 531,3501 b, of cheese. The milk used to make a pound of cheese was 9.281 b. The yield was 2.63 per cent, and the average test 4.09. That was the highest average test yet recorded by the company. The cost of manufacture and putting cheese f.o.b. ocean steamer, including all overhead expenses, was 3.22 per lb. of butter-fat. It was 3.73 d last year. Depreciation was .lid and the levy .03d per lb. of butter-fat. The August and September makes of cheese were sold at Iod per lb., and October at 04d; the rest of the season’s make was consigned. After the usual depreciations had been written off there was a credit balance of £1152 7s 7d. The directors recommended a further payment of lid per lb. of butter-fat. The total payment to date would then be 19d and a further payment would be made when all account sales were received. Cheese in stock had been taken at 7 id per lb. Statistics for 1929, with those for 1928 in parentheses, were: Number of suppliers, 14 (13); milk for cheese-mak-ing, 4,932,6351 b. (4,240,1011 b. butterfat, 201,8401 b. (161.9991 b. cheese made, 531.3501 b. (437,0001 b. lbs. milk per lb. cheese, 9.28 (9.70); lbs. cheese per lb. of butter-fat, 2.63 (2.69); average test, 4.09 (3.82); paid suppliers, — (19.80 d average grade, 91.885 (91.022); cost to f.o.b. lb. butter-fat, 3.22 (3.73 d The chairman congratulated shareholders on their improved farming methods as an increase of 21J per cent, from the same suppliers v/as, Mr. Goodwin considered, something for the district to be proud of. The bonus would bring the pay-out for the last season, in° chiding the winter months, to Is 7d per pound butter-fat. The cheese yet to be sold was taken in at- a very low valuation so unless there was a decided slump in the cheese market in England the pay-out should be increased. SEASON ONE FOR SELLING. At the beginning of the season the outlook had seemed very bright and th® merchants in England must also I have thought so, because they had |

opened the season with lOd advance for cheese. That, no doubt, had given the directors a false view of the situation. They had sold the August and September output at lOd, however, and the October make at 9id, which gave the season a good start. The balance of the season's output had been consigned. The season had proved to be one for selling rather than consigning.

The financial position of the company was very sound. Taking the stocks of cheese and materials at a conservative value, they found there would be owing on the factory, machinery, buildings, and shares only £142, which proved the wisdom of the directors’ policy. Mr. Goodwin did not expect any new suppliers in the near future. Two important steps had been made in the industry during the past season —in the waxing of cheese and the standardisation. Mr. Goodwin expected that both would prove a success, although to a certain extent they were in their infancy. If they did prove the success Mr. Goodwin anticipated, there was a very bright future for the cheese industry.

Air. *Goodwin recognised that there had been an improvement' each year in the quality of milk being supplied. If that improvement were continued the industry would not have much to fear from competition outside the Dominion. Appreciation of the work and loyalty of the manager (Mr. A. Fleming) and tho staff was expressed by the chairman. So far £2768 more had been paid to suppliers this year than was paid during the whole of last year. STANDARDISATION AND WAXING. Mr. Payne said the increase in output and the decrease in the cost of manufacture during the past season was very gratifying, being the best he had seen during his connection with the company. The chairman pointed out that it would be hard to continue to increase the output at the same ratio as last season. The directors would have carefully to consider the question of standardisation, he said, and if it were found that standardisation would pay, the company would certainly go in for it. It might not pay Brooklands to put in a butter plant, but the company might combine with some other company. His idea was that standardisation had come to stay, but there was no immediate hurry, so they could make full investigation. It was all a question of £.s.d., but he thought the directors of factories that had standardised received a surprise when it was found that the standardised cheese had received the same price as the full cream cheese.

Waxing had proved successful, the cheese having realised the same price and there being a great saving in shrinkage.

The retiring directors, Messrs. G.

Goodwin, J. McEldowney, W. J. Payne, 8 .S. Wells and E. J. Ellerm were reelected unopposed. Mr. A. J. Tunbridge was re-elected auditor.

The chairman and secretary were voted the same honoraria as last year. Several speakers spoke of the work of the secretary (Mr. R. Pepperell), who had been associated with the company since its inception.

A vote of thanks was accorded the manager and staff, the directors and the Press.

Air. G. Goodwin was re-elected chairman by the directors.