ANNUAL MEETING.

Temuka Leader, Issue 10850, 6 October 1925, Page 2

ANNUAL MEETING.

TEMUKA CO-OP. DAIRY 00. FURTHER PARTICULARS. The following was held over from the report of the annual meeting of the Ternuka Co-operative Dairy Co. which appeared in, Saturday’s issue. Following on Mr Hayhurst’s in quiries regarding the running of the cream lorries, Mr Barry stated that he was one of those who got his cream collected by lorry, hut he was .inclined to sympathise with Mr Hayhurst, He thought those who had the benefit of the lorries should pay for them. Mr Hayhurst quoted figures showing that it cost the. company., four times as much to collect about twice as much cream as in 1921. The chairman stated that in 1921 they only had one lorry, and that did nearly two lorries’ work, and was running night and day. This year they had five; lorries, and they were making more butter. They made twenty-three tons- more butter this year than last. If every lorry was taken off the road tq-day they could close up to-morrow. Letters were coming to hand every day from farmers wishing to supply. The factory was a co-operative one, and it was their duty to collect as much as possible. lu reply to a question from Mr Barry, the chairman stated that in addition to collecting, the! lorries ■did a tremendous amount of delivering. Mr G. Parke asked how much petrol was obtained during the year. ■

The chairman stated that three hundred cases were bought yearly, but a good deal of this was sold to suppliers. Mr Parke: The reason I asked this is .because, to my knowledge a man backed his car in, took two cases of petrol, no one being any the wiser. Continuing, Mr Parke- said that under present conditions they would never manufacture under 3d. The manufacturing expenses were far too high. i Mr Trumper asked what ’was the quantity of cream taken from the milk carted to the factory. The chairman stated that he had not these figures with him, but any shareholder was at liberty to see. the books at the office. In reply to a question, the chairman stated that five men were employed in the cheese room, and about the same number in the butter room. Then there were the ■manager and boiler men and office girl. Mr Trumper asked whqt ■* the items in furniture represented. The chairman said that this represented a safe, adding machine and tables, chairs, etc. , In reply to another question, he slated that the valuation of the motor lorries Avas their new pirice minus 10 per cent, annually for depreciation. Mr Bolting then moved am amendment that the amount of £2Ol set down to be carried Torward he used to supply an ex:tra halfpenny for those who had extra expense in getting cream to the factory. The chairman said that he could not do this, as there was a quantity of butter still unsold, and the money might be required. The adoption of the report and balance-sheet was then carried unanimously. ’ELECTION OF DIRECTORS. The chairman then opened the declaration of the result of the ballot for the election of directors, which resulted as follows:-—-R. Lee 161, J. Leonard 147. A. R. Hotting 105, A. Shaw 103, A. Hope 96, J. Stapleton 52. The first four were duly declared elected. Mr Shaw returned thanks for the confidence reposed in himself and those others who had been elected. Messrs Lee, Leonard and Dotting also spoke. Mr Hope thanked the shareholders for all the support that had been given him in the past. Mr Stapleton also spoke. The chairman moved a motion of thanks to Mr Hope for the valuable: services he had rendered to thefactory. He had done a great deal of work for the factory during his eight years of office. The motion was carried unani- ; mously. j Mr Barry proposed that Mr IV.- ‘ D. Revell be re-elected auditor at : a fee of thirty guineas. This was- . seconded by Mr Norton and carried. Mr Barry moved that the- direc- : tors be remunerated for their past services, and that the fee be £2OO, divided as they thought fit. This was .seconded by Mr Ellis and carried. Mr J. South proposed that the’, company should establish an officeat the factory, and that a permanent secretary be appointed. He : moved that it be a motion ,to the-; incoming directors. Mr Leonard, in seconding' Mr : South’s motion, asked why the question could not be dealt with at the- ; annual meeting. >

The chairman stated that it was: a question for the directors. Mr Barry thought notice of motion should be given, and he wasquite against even the direatorsclealiug with such a matter without discussing it with the shareholders. Mr Leonard here stated that a» he was a director he could not second the motion. Mr Trumpet* then seconded the motion, which was carried. Mr Trumpet’ asked what was thereason of the difference between voting papers this year and last. The secretary stated that last year a new balance-sheet had been, tried, but during the year a court case had proved this type ultra, vires, and he had reverted to the. old type. Mr Bolting suggested that next year the voting papers be sent o-ur: at least a fortnight before the dossing date. Ms Nolan moved that the dirertors be accorded a vote of thanks for the successful balance-sheet! that had been laid before the meeting. This was seconded by Mr J. K. Young. Mr Barry supported the motion, which was then carried. In replying, Mr Cartwright said ' that perhaps they were not such a bad lot after all. He assured the • shareholders that all the directors. ■ were energetic and had the inter- : ests of the company a>t heart, and. ■ were out to do what they could for ; its benefit. On the whole, the fac- : tory was paying up to 2d more than many others. He hoped that iff- . twelve mouths’ time they would be- ' ■able to record another satisfactory ' year. However, there was a like- i iihoocl that the shipping trouble ; might affect the price, but he hoped i that this would be avoided.

In reply to a question, the chairman stated that the present steam plant was being kept as a stand-by plant should the electricity fail. Ho hoped that the bonuses would be paid out early in November. Mr Barry spoke appreciatively of the courtesy of the staff from the secretary downwards. Especially was this so in the case of the lorry drivers, who had had some difficult if not alarming experiences in the past. He moved that it be a recommendation to the incoming directors that a bonus of £5 each be toted to them. This was seconded and carried. In replying, Mr Walker, the manager, thanked the company for their vote of thanks. He had a good staff and all were willing workers. His advice to the suppliers was to stick to the factory. It was a co-opera-tive concern, and the amount of cream determined the amount of the payout. Replying on behalf of the clerical staff, Mr Booth stated that his girls were working “eyes out” during the heat of the season. When the factory began to ease off and things became a little easier, his girls had to commence on the annual balance. This meant a, great deal of high pressure and overtime work. It would give him very great pleasure to be able to pass on to the girls the shareholders’ vote of thanks. A meeting of the new hoard of directors was then held. Mr G. B. Cartwright was reappointed chairman for the eighth successive term, and Mr J. Leonard was appointed vice-chairman.