OPUA ROAD DAIRYING

Taranaki Daily News, 31 July 1931, Page 11

OPUA ROAD DAIRYING

AVERAGE PAYMENT OF lod. SLIGHT INCREASE IN OUTPUT. The 20th annual meetnig of shareholders of the Opua Road Dairy Company was held yesterday, Mr. G. Leaver presiding over 11 suppliers. The report stated that the milk taken had shown an increase over the previous year. The cheese was handled on open consignment and the prices realised had been very satisfactory. Payments were made to suppliers as follows: July, August, September, November, Is; October, JOd; December, February, May, June, 9d; January, March, 8d; April, 7d. A further payment would bring the esason’s average to lOd. The season’s statistics with the previous year’s figures in parentheses are:— Pounds of milk, 3,568,712 (3,437,660); lbs butter-fat; 142,013 (138,507) ;•*’ lbs cheese, 368,922 (363,203); lbs milk to lb cheese 9.673 (9.464); lbs cheese to lb butter-fat, 2.58 (2.62); average test, 3.99 (4.02). Whey and starter cream were forwarded to Pihama for manufacture. The chairman said that liabilities were much the same as last year, with the addition of a liability of £3O in National Dairy Association shares. The Rennet Company’s shares, it was pleasing to note, were paying a dividend. Cheese on hand taken in at 51s was represented by £768. Repairs and renewals were slightly higher, being due. to repairs to a motor. There was a substantial reduction •in salaries and • wages. Insurance rates were increased. The most unfortunate aspect was the amount paid to suppliers. Last year at this time the payments amounted to £9094, but this season the sum was only £5967—a decrease of £3127. Cream sales to Pihama accounted for £499, with an additional £I4Q to come. This year had been an unfortunate one for all dairy companies. The company's lowest sale had been 465, although the market fell as low as 41s at one period. The total of manufacturing charges was 3.108 d, showing a reduction of .414 d or nearly id per lb, which was a substantial saving.

It was very cheering to see that there was an improvement in quality, the average'grade being 91.33 with no second grade —a position which had occurred for the first time in the company’s history. The staff had been doing their work well in giving quality, and the suppliers’ thanks were due to them. The directors had decided to forego 25 per cent, of their fees, showing that they were trying to do their share to reduce costs. The secretary also volunteered to reduce his salary by 10 per cent, and the manager and staff had likewise been reduced for the next season.

A supplier asked why Cape Egmont had paid lid more than Opua. The secretary explained that in the former case there was a larger yield and. they had made butter and sold it from February onwards. Their working costs were -Id less, due to their being 20 nearer the grading port. They also had lower overhead expenses with, their larger supply under one roof. Mr. S. R. Leaver: We have reduced our overhead expenses and the work has been very economically done this year. The directors elected were Messrs. G. Leaver, T. H. H. Sinclair, S. R. Leaver, J. Magee and W. McNeil. Mr. H. J. Newman was re-appointed auditor. The chairman said the Dairy Division had requested their opinion on compulsory milk grading. At a special meeting the directors decided to send a protest against the proposal. While desiring good quality milk the chairman said there was a difference between a mechanical test and that by the human senses. The chairman was voted an honorarium of £l5 Jss and the manager £lO 10s. Directors fees were fixed‘at 7s 6d per meeting. The next year of the factory would see its coming of age, said the cnairman, and he hoped suppliers would send milk of high quality so that a very "ood article could be manufactured. It was known that bad quality brought down the price more than the good quality carried it up. il vote of thanks was accorded the manager, secretary and staff. Mr. Leaver was re-elected chairman.