PAST SEASON’S DAIRYING

Taranaki Daily News, 12 August 1930, Page 6

PAST SEASON’S DAIRYING

CO-OPERATIVE COMPANIES MEET. YEAR’S WORK AT WAVERLEY. The annual meeting of shareholders of the Waverley Co-operative Dairy Company was held at Waverley yesterday, Mr. W, McFarlane presiding. The directors’ report stated: The output has been well up to that of past seasons, but the state of the market has been very disappointing. The factors contributing to this are mainly the unsatisfactory financial and industrial conditions in Great Britain and also increased supplies from our own and other countries. It appears, taking all the circumstances into consideration, that prices are likely to be on a lower level, and it will be necessary for careful supervision of expenditure to be exercised. Up to date payments per lb for butter-fat have been Is 3|d, A further payment of per lb will be available by the date of the annual meeting, with the possibility of a still further payment on the completion of sales. The retiring directors are Messrs. T. J. Davis and W. Macfarlane, who, being eligible, offer themselves for re-election. The statistics were: Total lbs milk, 8,658,305; total lbs butter-fat, 324,712; total lbs cheese, 921,535; milk to cheese, 9.39; cheese to butter-fat, 2.84; average test, 4.25. Butter-making: Total lbs, butter-fat, 43,560; total lbs butter made, 55,135; over-run, 1.26581b5; whey butter made, 22,4001 b.

In moving tjie adoption of the report and balance-sheet the chairman remarked that'as they all knew the season had been a most difficult one, Waverley had done as well as most factories. Its output was a little less than last year, two big suppliers having been lost. This had tended to increase the manufacturing costs. In reply to a question the chairman stated that a good deal of extra butter had been made during the year, resulting in increased costs for butter-boxes, firing, etc. The factory had also had to be renovated.

Another supplier commented that overhead expenses had increased by £BOO, only £2OO of which could be attributed to wages. The cost to f.o.b. said another shareholder was 3.6’d, while the previous year it had been only 3.25 d. With the box factory and railway so handy surely a reduction could be made. Mr. Smith suggested that the use of saw-dust might reduce the fuel bill considerably. The chairman stated that a special furnace had been installed and would make a very material difference, as it would burn slack and sawdust.'

With regard to the pay-out the chairman stated that the approximation made in the annual report was based on a conservative figure. The directors had received no offer for the season’s output. Mr. Morrison said that if an offer which would give a pay-out of Is Cd was received the directors should accept it. He had been told that Bjd had been offered.

The chairman reiterated that no definite offer had been made.

Mr. Jeffries asked what was the directors’ opinion of standardised cheese. Had they had any Home reports? The chairman said that the subject was receiving earnest consideration. Personally he thought that standardisation was payable as long as high quality cheese was made. The cheese landing in England was not up, to standard. As far as the milk supply was concerned the manager had a free hand to reject any milk. He was given a free hand to make first-class cheese. Mr. Macfarlane did not see much good in joining the premium pool, but could not see why individual factories should not make an effort for quality on their own account.

Mr. Jeffries said that it might be a good idea to have a time fixed for the supply of milk.. If one man could be at the factory at 8 a.m. why could pot the next? The manager.should be instructed by the directors to shut out late ,

. “The quality .must be improved,” said the chairman. ; “There is a lot of good in Mr. Jeffries’ suggestion.” Tho manager (Mr. J. F. Nicholls) said that the trouble was that nearly all the suppliers arrived at one time. If some of them could come a little earlier it would help the staff considerably. If the factory were given good milk at the right time it would not need any control board or dairy division. Mr. T. F. McKenzie was appointed auditor. ' Messrs. W. McFarlane and W. H. Watkins were elected directors, the other candidates being Messrs. T. J. Clover and T. J. Davis. ANDERSON CUP GOLF. SUTTON BEATS GRACE. The second semi-final in the Hawera Golf Club’s contest for the Anderson Cup was played at the week-end between G. Sutton and P.' Grace and resulted in a win for Sutton, 3 up and 2 to play. Play was keen and close throughout and the position changed several times during the match, though the winner held a small lead all. the time. He was two up at the ninth, and though Grace made a bold bid for .victory,'Sutton held the advantage and, winning the 16th, secured the match there. Ho went round in 9-1 and Grace in, 06,