DAIRYING AT BELL BLOCK

Taranaki Daily News, 21 August 1930, Page 3

DAIRYING AT BELL BLOCK

INCREASED PRODUCTION

REVIEW OF PAST SEASON. MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS. 3 A very eatisfactory annual meeting of the Bell Block Dairy Company was held last night, when Mr. L. J. Rundle presided over, an attendance of about b 0 suppliers, ' The 34th annual report revealed another record of production. The but-ter-fat received showed an increase of 129,7781 b. Following are the quantities and averages for the year: — Cheese.—Bell Block: Milk 8,922,635 lb.; fat, 392,5701 b.; cheese, 975,4401 b.;; milk to cheese, 9.141 b.; yield, 2.48; average test, 4.39; tons, 435. Hillsborough: Milk, 3,799,4461 b.; fat, 170,4661 b.; cheese 416,7401 b.; milk to cheese, 9.11; yield, 2-44; average test, 4.48; tons, 186. The totals were: Milk, 12,722,0811 b.; fat, 563,0361 b.; cheese, 1,392,1801 b.; milk to cheese, 9.131 b.; yield, 2.47; average test, 4.42; tons, 621. ' ' < The ratio of cheese per lb. of butterfat received was 2.47 plus 79,4001 b. butter from stand.ardised milk. Butter-making.—Bell Block: Milk, 91,4551 b.; fat, 42691b.;’ test, 4.66. Hillsborough; Milk, 31,6551 b.; fat, 15891 b.; test, 5.01.

After writing off the usual depreciation the profit and loss account had a credit balance of £8291 is Bd, of which £2606 19s 5d belonged to butter suppliers and £5684 2s 3d to cheese sup; pliers. The directors recommended, the following allocations: 6 per cent, interest on capital paid by suppliers to June 30, a further payment of 1 5-Sd per lb. of butter-fat supplied for but-ter-making, and 23-8 d per lb. of but-ter-fat supplied for cheese-making, bringing the average payment to date including interest to 15.93 d per lb. to butter suppliers and. 17.84 d per lb. to cheese suppliers. The debit balances on account sales to June 30 had been charged against butter and cheese accounts, and as stock had been taken m at 6|d per lb. of cheese and lid per lb. of butter there should be a further payment when all account sales were received. The cost of manufacture, overhead expenses and putting produce f.o.b. ocean steamer was: Cheese 2.73 d per . lb. of : butter-fat received; butter, 2.OGd per lb. of butter-fat received; average cost of butter and cheese over all butter-fat was 2.51 d, against 2.71 d last year. RECORDS IN PRODUCTION.

In moving the adoption ’ of the report and balance-sheet Mr. Rundle congratulated the suppliers on the increase in fat for the year. The previous year had established a record of production but during the' last year there had been an increase of 18.30 per cent, on the previous year’s ’figures. This was ai the more remarkable when it was remembered that the land which the suppliers used was the same in. area of cultivation as that used by suppliers for the past 20 years. The increases, therefore, were due to better farming methods. There was a remarkable increase in the yield of butter due to standardisation and to the transfer of 65,000 lb. of fat from butter to cheese.! At the time of the meeting there’ was 1000 boxes of butter unsold, which on present market prices would realise Hid. There would therefore probably be a little more to add to the payment, bringing the total to a little over Is 4d.

There had been a little trouble with the quality, but he assured them that the trouble was not due to the manufacturers, for analysis had shown that the water was unfavourable for use in manufacturing butter and cheese. Manufacturing costs had decreased considerably, due to the greater amount of butter handled, as during <he trouble with the water there had been a decrease in the sales to the local market. In connection with the water supply Mr. Street had allowed the factory the use of water from his well.' Referring to cheese production, Mr. Rundle said there had not been a very phenomenal increase, owing to the fact tli*t a larger proportion of milk had been utilised in butter-making. The factory had started standardisation in November, There had been much discussion on this policy but he was not prepared to say that split openness was due to standardisation; This defect had been found in full cream cheese. The North Taranaki factories grading at Moturoa had turned down a pooling scheme at a recent meeting in New Plymouth. He was sure, however, that the board would consider linking with South Taranaki in a pooling scheme. CHEESE STILL UNSOLD. At the present time there was roughly 2000 crates of white cheese and 700 crates of coloured cheese 'u certain amount had been taken into consideration at 7id and on this there would not be much more to come, but 1700 crates had been valued at 6Jd, and there might be a little more on this. At the time of the balance the factory had a debit at Home of £lOOO on butter and £4OO on cheese. As the market was in such an uncertain state it -was thought wise to wipe off these debits with the surplus in the bank. The advantage of waxing was shown by the fact that shrinkage had been only 1 per cent, as compared with 2.55 per cent! in the “control” year, when there was no waxing. In view of the slipping quality of dairy produce in New Zealand he had a suggestion to be made to the dairyleaders in New Zealand. While iu con ' versation with a recent visitor to England and to Tooley Street lie had been assured that the opinion was prevalent that the standard had fallen. The chairman felt much good would come if Mr. Singleton, his staff and dairy managers throughout New Zealand got together to see what could be done. The buildings were in good order, he continued, and the contract price of the new Hillsborough cottage had been £760. He did not think there would be many extras. Dealing with the N.D.A. he said that about three years previously the P.N. for £230 had been renewed, this being the method of financing the association. At the conference the constitution of the association had bfei reconstructed. The Bell Block under the new scheme. Had taken the P.N. would have'Y >e. The factory had taken 90 sha! a \ in the plant, etc., and about 300 Cdinary shares. The N.D.A. had done well during the past few years. . :■■ ■ Mr. J. S. Jones seconded the motion for the adoption of the report. 'There

wa« no discussion and the motion was carried. The two retiring directors, Messrs. F. Cornwall and S. Styles, were .reelected and Mr. A. J. Tunbridge was re-appointed auditor. A vote of thanks to Mr. Street for tne use of the water from his well was carried. The chairman was voted the same honorariuxn as in the past year and the directors’ fees were increased to £l per meeting. ■ Supper w as served, by a < committee consisting of Mesdsnies /L.i J,. Rundle. T. Sampson, H. Sampson, C. E., Biship,’ W. O. Bi’ittenden and'R. Parkin.