JOLL DAIRY COMPANY

Taranaki Daily News, 27 July 1929, Page 22

JOLL DAIRY COMPANY

21 YEARS OF DAIRYING SUCCESSFUL CO-OPERATIVE WORK. CELEBRATIONS AT MANAIA. The T. L Joll Co-operative Dairy Company, Ltd., celebrated its 21st year of operation as a co-operative concern yesterday by a dinner to shareholders and a social at the town hall, Manaia. _ The'Joll company is the largest dairying organisation in Taranaki, comprisin'’' eight separate cheese factories (over 50°vats), with a total output of about 3500 tons of cheese per annum. Its history is an interesting and fascinating one and discloses remarkable progress, due to the enterprising men who have controlled the policy, and to the loyal support of suppliers and stall'. The company was successful from the -Very start, the first year showing, .a working profit of £4417, out of which six per cent, was paid on the capital, and £4297 additionally distributed to suppliers. Each succeeding year disclosed a good surplus, and the suppliers geneially received liberal additional payments at the end of the respective seasons.

DIRECTORS: PAST AND PRESENT. ( The first directors of the company ' Kero Messrs. J. B. Murdoch, T. Walsh, ( J. D Crowley, J. Smith, C. J. Luxton, J. S. Pearce, J. Marx, J. Bloomfield and j A. C. Johnstone, and it is interesting io note that three of these have been on the directorate continually ever They are Messrs. J. B. Murdoch, L Walsh and A. C. Johnstone, each Ox whom has also served as chairman of the company. The first chairman was Mr. Murdoch, who holds that office at the present time. Past directors of the company are:Mcssrs. J. B. Murdoch, T. Walsh, J. D. Crowley, J. Smith, C. J. Luxton, J. S. Pearce, J. Marx, J. Bloomfield, A. C. Johnstone, P. Ronchild, H. H. Buxton, E. J. Betts, S. Kissick, W. F. Lyndon, T. Whyte, D. M. Scott, F. Lye, J. W. Paterson, G. H. Meuli, T. Shearer, J. F. Kiley, J E Meuli, E. Chapman, J. J. Kissick, W.; Slattery, W. A. Guy, R. E. Harrison, D. P. F. Malone, J. Daley, and J. N. ■ Crocker., Past chairmen are: —Mr. J. B. Murdoch, ~1008-1912; Mr. T. Walsh, 1912-1913;.-Mi'. J. D. Crowley, 1913-1914; Mr.' J. B. Murdoch, 1914-1918; Mr. A. O. Johnstone, 1918-1919; Mr. J. B. Murdoch,. 1919-1929. Past?'general managers are:—Mr. 11. Black, ' 1908-1909; Mr. A. McKenzie, 1909 1912; Mr. D. Ogilvy, 1912-1913; , Mr. T. M. Robertson, 1913-1916; Mr. A. ; G. Fraser, 1916-1929. On the death of the original proprietor, : Mr. T. L. Joll, it was decided to form, a company with a capital of £25,000. The output was then but 1670 tons of cheese, or less than half what it is at present, ir JThe purchase included eight established cheese factories and the original factory, which is now used as a butter factory. It was about 40 years ago when the late Mr. Joll entered the dairying business in a small way as a storekeeper at Okaiawa. BARTERING BUTTER AT STORE. In the early days of the district the i Settlers kept a few cows and made butter. This they would endeavour to. exchange for groceries and stores, direct gale- of . produce being then altogether Bn impossibility. This system of barter became a fairly common and convenient method of exchanging goods and Mr. Joll was one who accepted butter in ex- . change for goods, his trade increasing to • inch an extent that he put in a butter worker to handle the quantities received. This was in the days before refrigeration, and he used to salt down the butter, put in in barrels and ship it to England. His trade soon increased to such dimensions that he installed a separator and went in for butter-making on a large scale. Eventually he gave up the store business and launched out extensively and solely into dairy manufacturing. The first plant located at the site of the present butter factory on the banks of the Inaha sream, at Okaiawa, was somewhat primitive in comparison with a modern dairy factory, a small water turbine being employed to drive the machinery. Just to show how primitive things were in those days it may be mentioned that the water for washing the separator was heated in a copper outside the building, and carried in in buckets. The company has now extended its operations over an extensive area of the best dairying land of South Taranaki. The cheese factories are all of the most modern type, and are situated at Okaiawa, Tempsky Road, Te Ngutu, Palmer Road, Manaia Road (Kapuni), Mangawhero, Taikatu (Skeet Road), and r Otakeho. The five former are either concrete or partly concrete structures, while the latter three are constructed of wood. The butter manufacturing plant at Okaiawa is also completely up-to-date and manufactures about 60 tons per annum. Between SO and 90 men are employed during the height of the season, and are comfortably housed in 16 cottages for managers and men at the respective factories.

The present secretary, Mr, Andrew Lees, has occupied that position continuously since the inception jof the company, while Mr. L. S. Mackie, manager of the Otakeho branch, has been with the company during the whole of its existence. Mr. Lees also served with Mr. Joll for six years from 1898 to 1904, later managing the Normanby factory for four years. He resumed with the Joll cooperative company on its formation. Eleven years after the concern was ta'ken over from the Joll estate the balance of the money owing was paid, and the capital increased to £5'0,000. Practically the only misfortune that ever happened to the company was the .influenza epidemic in 1918, Of a total stair of GO only six escaped this dread malady, and the directors were faced with great difficulty in carrying on. However, a neighbouring concern, the Mangatoki company, in a spirit of true friendliness, came forward and lent men to make the cheese. This enabled the work to be carried on as usual untilthe visitation had passed. During this season, the chairman (Mr. J. B. Murdoch) was one of the delegates appointed to visit the Old Country and America in connection with matters of importance to the dairy industry, and during his absence Mr. C. Johnstone was head of the directorate. In 1915 it was decided to go in for herd-testing, and this has been a big factor, not only in improving the yield

of the cows, but in increasing the average test as well.

RECORDS IN PRODUCTION.

In the 1920-21 season the output of butter was commandeered by the Imperial Government, the price being 2s Gd per lb. for creamery butter, and 2s 4d for whey butter. These handsome “boom” prices induced the directors to turn over several of their branches to butter-making, 224 tons being made during the season. This was the largest quantity of butter ever made by the company in one season, and the price per pound of butter-fat also reached its highest in the company’s history 2s 1.37 d per lb. The 1921-22 season was a record one to that date for the supply of milk, the quantity received going over the 60,000,0001 b mark. This was an increase of 19 per cent, over the previous year, and 43 per cent, compared with 1914. The record year for milk, howevei, was reached in 1924-25 when the supply was 76,644,3701 b. The record year for cheese production was last season, when the quantity manufactured reached the large total of 3574 tons. The cheese production first reached the 200 tons level in 1916 and the 3000 tons mark in 1924, and since tne latter year it has never fallen below that figure.* The succeeding years show a steady increase, and before long it may be expected the 4000 ton mark will be attained. , The quarter of a million pounds maiK in cash pav-out was reached for the first time in 1923, and since that time it has only once (in 1927) fallen below the £200,000 level. Last year, not only was the cheese output a record, but the cash pay-out was also the highest, being £287,280. The total payments made by the company during its 21 years operations amount to £3,624,000.

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STEADY RISE IN OUTPUT. | The steady rise in production is reflected in the following figures of cheese output. The returns of buttei made are not given, but each year a quantity ranging from 37 to 224 tons has been made in addition to the cheese. Cheese: 1909, 1700 tons; 1910, 2050 tons; 1911, 1421 tons; 1912, 1878 tons; 1913, 1815 tons; 1914, 1783 tons; 1915, 1865 tons; 1916, 2221 tons; 1917, 2013 tons; 1918, 1997 tons; 1919, 2062 1920, 2413 tons; 1921, 1924 tons; 1922, 2592 tons; 1923, 2859 tons; 1924, 3114 tons; 1925, 3434 tons, 1926, 3404 tons; 1927, 3430 tons; 1928, 3514 tons; 1929, 3644 tons. The total amount of cheese manufactured since the company started thus amounts to 53,055 tons. The following is a complete statistical summary of the operations year by

*Payout per lb butter-fat supplied, does not include interest on shares. The variation in the cost of manufacture makes interesting reading to the economist. When the company started its output was about 1700 tons, and the cost 'to f.o.b. amounted to 2.24 d per lb. In 1911 this was reduced to 2.04 d, and in 1914, before war costs had been felt, it was 2.64 d. By 1920-21 the cost had reached its peak, being no less than 4.95 d, or more than double that of 190809. In 1921-22 it fell to 4.39 d, and last year it was 3.50 d, a figure which may be regarded as an average for the next year or two.

The chairman of directors, Mr. J. B. Murdoch, presided at the celebration and there were present over 400 guests, including representatives of many other South Taranaki co-operative dairy companies. Several apologies for absence wcro received; including those from Messrs. C. A. Wilkinson, M.P., H. G. Dickie, M.P., and J. D. Crowley, a former director, who wished the company continued prosperity. PROGRESS OF INDUSTRY.

The toast of “The Dairy Industry” was proposed by the chairman, who said the attainment of the company’s majority was an important occasion. He extended a warm welcome to the representatives of the surrounding co-operative dairy companies. A function >ucii as this brought about a good feeling between the suppliers, and he considered it would do much good to co-operation if other companies held similar functions. He mentioned the great increase in. the output of dairy produce which had taken place since- 1998. Then the total cheese exported from New Zea- , land was 13,000 tons, now it was 78,000 tons. He referred to the need for treating other co-operative companies with courtesy an<F he thought they might with advantage have an understanding in regard to the territories in which each company was operating. Responding, Mr. J. R. Corrigan wished the company many happy returns of the day. The company had a good father in the late Mr. Joll, who put in a.good foundation for the dairy indus-try-in /South ,Taranaki. It .was a wonderful work that was done by Mr. Joll. If they lived another 20 years he was 'certain they would see Taranaki double

its output owing to improved methods of farming. He referred to the development of standardised cheese and mentioned that he had that day received advice that standardised cheese had brought Is a cwt. more than “Oil-stand-ardised from the same shipment, M • .Corrigan referred to the rennet indust 15, a subsidiary of dairying, and said that it was able to supply an excellent ar tide in competition with outside ma facturers. . , , . Mr E T. Burke congratulated tne company on its management. If they had not had good management they would not be in their present good pos - tion. Since the company took ovei fiom the late Mr. Joll it had increased its butter-fat by 1,280,0001 b. the average pav-out for the period being Is 9.3 id. As a neighbouring company directoihe hoped the good feeling growing up would be fostered by the function that day. WORK OF FEDERATION. . Mr T. M. Winks, chairman of the Federation of Taranaki Co-operative Dairy Companies, said the mind of the late Mr. Joll ran on co-operative lines and ho ever had the welfare 0 suppliers at heart. It was Mr. Joll who initiated the bonus paid to supp icis, and his death was a loss to the dairy industry. The growth of the Dauy Federation was briefly stated by Mi. Winks, who mentioned that the federation now comprised 36 companies, the original number being 19. The bulletins Mr? Veale issued were in demand as far' afield as England and the Continent. To "ivo an idea of the immense amount of work handled the speaker said that the first vear they handled 150'0 samples, the second 6000, the third 10,000 and last year 20,000 samples had been analysed. He believed milk grading would be. another useful outcome of the federation s activity. The federation could take full

credit for the introduction of standardised cheese. He was satisfied it was a successful innovation and they were justified in going into that phase of the industry. Mr. A. S. Hodge gave an outline of the handling and shipping of dairy produce. It had to pass the judicial eye of the Dairy Division and that were very strict. The division had, however, been given very little trouble from South Taranaki recently. The output of cheese handled through his company at Patca had increased from 40,00'0 crates to 260,000, or approximately 20,000 tons. This was from about 20 factories.

“Officials and Managers” was proposed by Mr. A. C. Johnstone, who remarked that they had a great deal to thank their secretary for. The time had gone by when anyone could do the job and they had to have specialists. They owed a great debt of gratitude to their secretary, Mr. A. Lees. “Speaking of the managers,” ho continued, “I think their job is easy. (Laughter.) They have only two things to do —to keep the test up and working expenses down.” He considered they had a very fine lot of managers. He wished to congratulate Mr. A. F. Neilsen on his new appointment. He had gained the bulk of his experience with the Joll company.

CORDIAL RELATIONS. Mr. G. A. Duncan (Hawera secretary) congratulated the Joll company on its success. He mentioned that the directors fixed the policy of the companies and the secretaries carried out that policy. The relations between the directors and dairy company secretaries was of a most cordial nature. There was also, a good feeling between South Taranaki secretaries, among whom Mr. Lees

was held in high esteem. Mr. D. Hopcroft (Normanby manager) mentioned that the success of a dairy company was largely due to the experience of the secretary. The managers today were working under very good conditions. .

“The Primary Producer” was proposed

by Mr. A. Lees, who said there was one thing that farmers had made a success of and that was co-operation, and other companies that had reached a high state of efficiency deserved as much credit as the Joll company. He whlied to mention the fine work done by the early directors of the company. They for- . mulated a policy to reduce their liability and get the finances on a good foundation.. They had also allowed for ample depreciation. The sound position to-day was a tribute to the good work of the eqrly directors. (Applause.) The total spent in buildings was £31,000 with the book value to-day standing at £28,- ! 000. There had been many changes of

suppliers since the commencement, no less than 500 different suppliers having been on their books at various times. There were none of the very first suppliers still on the books, but there were a few who had been supplying since the I company was formed. These were /Messrs. E. J. Betts, Betts and Son, G. Oldfield, A. Sutherland, F. R. Nicholas, J. O’Dea, W. F. Lyndon, 11. A. Nicholls, G. Edlin, W. Hudson, W. Johnston, B. Phillips, W. J. Oldfield, T. O’Dowd. Every section of the community must be interested in the producer. Mr. E. J. Betts said he had been with the Joll company since its formation and it was gratifying to know that the company was the soundest in the country. He hoped their prosperity of the past would continue in the future. Mr. J. Marx touched upon the early history of the company. On Mr. Joli’s death Mrs. Joll found difficulty in carrying on such a large concern and she interviewed him. It was decided to start the company, which had one of the best starts of any company in New Zealand. There was a big meeting at Kapuni and the proposals were adopted unanimously. It would have been a bold man then who could have predicted such a result. “The Visitors” was proposed by Mr. G. H. Meuli and responded to by Mr. B. /McCarthy and Mr. R. C. Hay-Mc-Kenzie. “The Ladies’’ was proposed by Mr. J. F. Kiley and responded to by Mrs. 11. Corkill. “The. Press” was proposed by Mr. W. A. Guy. Items were contributed by Miss A. Stevenson (recitation), Miss Davies (song), Mrs. McCallum (recitation), Mr. J. Renwick (song)

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