HIGH QUALITY CHEESE

Taranaki Daily News, 2 August 1932, Page 12

HIGH QUALITY CHEESE

. KAIMATA’S GOOD RECORD SIX YEARS NO SECOND GRADE. REPORT OF 20TH YEAR'S OPERATION For the sixth year in succession the Kaimata Dairy Company has had the proud record of not having manufactured one crate of second grade cheese. This year more than two-thirds of the output, or 67 per cent., has graded finest, the other 33 per cent, being first. With a “pay-out” of probably Is and a decrease in the cost of manufacture, despite a decline in the output, the report showed that the directors had carried out their part faithfully and the suppliers showed their appreciation at the twentieth annual meeting last night by re-electing the seven directors en bloc. The chairman of directors (Mr. J. Dobson) presided over an attendance of about 25 suppliers. The report stated that the total milk received, 8,286,352 lb., showed a decrease of 1,589,359 lb., as compared with the previous season. The total butter-fat, 362,566 lb., was also less than last year to the extent of 60,352 lb. Cheese made amounted to 392 tons 19 cwt., a decrease of 74 tons as compared with last season. Whey butter made was 9 tons 9 cwt. Creamery butter was made during the months of June and July and from May 11 to 31, 1932, a total of 12 tons 4 cwt. During the year suppliers had received advances amounting to £15,854 4s 4d, an average payment of 10.49 d per lb. of but-ter-fat. The average payment over the cheese making period was 10.489 d, and for butter making 10.56 d. After writing off. £232 6s for' depreciation and placing £378 to reserve account, there remained a balance of £824 13s 4d, but it was not possible at the present juncture to forecast what the season would average, pending receipt of advices as to the prices realised for all the cheese shipped on consignment. The statistics were;—Cheese-making: Milk 7,864,893 lb., butter-fat 339,997 lb., average test 4.323 per cent., cheese made 889,219 lb., lb. milk to 1 lb. cheese 8.935 lb., lb. cheese to 1 lb. butter-fat 2.588 lb., whey butter per ton cheese 54 lb. Butter-making: Milk 421,459 lb., but-ter-fat 22,569 lb,, average test 5.355 per cent., butter made 27,431 lb., lb. butter to 1 lb; butter-fat 1.2154 lb., whey butter made 21,275 lb., average test, season 4.375 per cent. CHAIRMAN'S ADDRESS. In moving the adoption of the report and balance-sheet the chairman referred to the previous season’s operations. At the time of the last annual meeting suppliers had received an average payment of 10.08 d per pound butter-fat, but when the season was finalised further payments were made, bringing the total payment for the season to 11.43 d per pound .butter-fat. That was the lowest “pay-out’’ in the history of tho company, and he hoped that it would prove to be the lowest they woul<£ receive, though under present conditions it was difficult to say. The season just ended, although fairly favourable for production, had not shown any marked improvement insofar as the prices obtained for produce on the overseas market were concerned. The general impression seemed to be that they could not expect much improvement until the world-wide depression showed some signs of lifting. Another factor that had had an effect on cheese prices had been the low prices ruling for meat, bacon and eggs in England. , However, he thought that on the whole, the dairy farmer was in a very favourable position as compared with say-ibe sheep farmer. He regretted that the amount of butter-fat received was considerably less, due to suppliers leaving the factory. He urged suppliers to be loyal to the company, whose payment over a period of years had compared more than favourably with that of any other factory. Despite the decreased output costs of production were lower than last year, the saving in round figures being l-sth of a penny per lb. of butter-fat. The installation of the automatic stoker had reduced the combined, fuel and electric power costs by £94 8s Id. The position of the stocks to-day was that there are 943 crates of cheese shipped, for which realisation advices were not yet to hand, and 267 crates were still in the cool stores. If the present prices held until all the cheese was sold there would be a substantial increase in the amount available for distribution, as the unsold stocks had been taken into account at 4Jd per lb., the amount of the advance, whereas at present it was realising 5Jd per lb. Suppliers had received an average payment over the cheese making period to date, of 10 4-sd, and it was. proposed to pay a further Ad per lb. over August and November to May 10, on August 20, which would bring the total to 11 l-sd. If . the market held up at the' present prices the payment would reach just. over "Is per lb. butter-fat. The manager, the staff and the suppliers for their care of the raw materia! were to be congratulated on the quality of the output. He had hoped, he said, to have had the official figures showing their position on the grading list at the Moturoa works for the season as he considered that Kaimata must be very near the top, but the results were not yet to hand. Replying to a question the chairman said that the shares the company held in the Moturoa Freezing Works were a. good sissut* ELECTION OF DIRECTORS. The seven retiring directors, Messrs. John Dobson, J. J. Ryan, J. L. Cartwright, F. G. Adlam, J. Klenner, J. H. Dobson and A. 'Bungay, were re-elected. Mr. Geo Pullen was re-elected auditor. Some discussion took place over ths question of differential payment and milk grading. ~ , The chairman said that it would only be a year or' two before differential payment on grade would be made compulsory. The shareholders that evening should give the directors an instruction in the matter. He thought that grading without differ-’ ential payment was a farce. Replying to Mr. Thorby the managci said that grading had effected an improvement in the milk.

Mr. Riley moved that differential pay ment be not enforced this year and the motion was seconded by Mr. Burkhardt, The chairman said the quality, of Kaimata cheese showed that their suppliers were taking an interest in the quality ol their produce. The motion was carried.

Mr. Riley referred to the proposal to prevent the export of whey butter. He considered that their whey butter was of high quality —more than equal to second grade creamery butter. The chairman said there was no likelihood of export being prohibited this year. After the meeting an adjournment was made to the supper room, where light refreshments were partaken of and a short toast list discussed. Mr. J. Dobson presided. After the loyal toast had been honoured “The Kaimata Dairy Company’’ was proposed by Mr. J. Garcia. One of ths most progressive districts in Taranaki, Kaimata was one of the first to take up herd-testing systematically, and its herds had put up splendid -records, he said. That progressive spirit was evidently carried through their dairying operations, as v-as shown by the fact that they had supplied raw material from which 67 per cent, of finest cheese had been manufactured, and no second grade had been made for six

years—a performance in which he congratulated all concerned. In acknowledging the chairman stated that two years ago the directors had made provision to cope with an increased supply, and it was therefore disappointing to see the supply decrease. Next year the company would attain its majority, when he hoped an increase would be showm. Some had said that the existence of the Kaimata Dairy Company was not justified but he maintained that there were many farmers who preferred to deliver their whole milk to a factory to separating, as they considered that they obtained better returns.

Mr. J. Klenner also replied in similar terms, adding that though the prices were not what they might have expected there was no need to be pessimistic. “The Manager and Staff” was proposed by Mr. A. T. Moore and responded to by Mr. G. Gibbins and , Mr. W. B. Messenger, the latter stating that the manufacture of so much finest cheese entailed considerable hard work on the manager and staff. Other toasts were ‘‘The Ladies,’ proposed by Mr. A. Franklyn and responded to by Messrs. C. England and R. Blackburn, and “The Press,” proposed by Mr. W. B. Messenger.