DAIRYING YEAR.

Wairarapa Age, 31 August 1933, Page 5

DAIRYING YEAR.

MAURICEVILLE COMPANY’S ANNUAL MEETING. HIGH LEVEL OF PRODUCTION. THE SEA'SON REVIEWED. The annual meeting of the Mauriceville Dairy Company was held at Mauriceville on Tuesday, the chairman of directors, Mr. V. K. Lemberg, presiding over an attendance of about fifty suppliers. The annual report, which was adopted, stated: “The output for the season reached the high level of 1012 tons of butter—an increase of 14 tons as compared with the previous season. For the third year in succession, a dry spell has curtailed production in the Lower Wairarapa. The season has been an extremely difficult one. Not for 20 years have such low prices ruled for dairy produce. The average prfce on the London market fell from 114 s to 675. During the past few weeks prices have appreciated until to-day ’9os per cwt. is the ruling price. It is hoped that these prices will continue and thus assist to put the industry and the country in a sounder financial position. In our monthly circular during the past three years we have, on many occasions urged suppliers to purchase British goods. A British dairy farmers’ representative is now on his way to New Zealand to discuss the question of butter and cheese quotas—it looks as if we may have to accept the quota system. To-day, therefore, it is more necessary than ever before to buy British goods—we must support the country that buys our butter and cheese. On July 29, a further progress payment was made’at the rate of Id per pound on all butterfat delivered during March and April. On August 20, a final payment of Id per pound on all butterfat supplied in February, March and April is being made. Provision has been made for the payment of 5 per cent, dividend on paid-up share capital.. The carriers and staff have carried out their duties in B capable manner, and are worthy of out appreciation. Two directors retire by rotation, viz., Messrs. Donald and Rogers, and, being eligible, offer themselves for Te-eleetion. The auditor, Mr A. Keith, again offers himself for reelection. In conclusion, your directors express their appreciation of the continued loyalty and support of suppliers, and hope this spirit of co-operation will long continue.”

. CH AIRMAN’S REVIEW. The chairman stated that the past season ha 1 been good Mor production generally throughout the: district, resulting in a rise in the. total output, despite a slight reduction in the number of suppliers. He predicted that the record of 1012 tons might remain for some yeaats for two reasons. Firstly, that sheep farmers who ithad taken on dairying would revert to sheep with the rise in price of wool, and secondly, the low prices for dairy produce prevented dairy farmers doing much top-dress-ing. Prices received during the past season were low and business was difficult and c disappointing. : Prices kept falling all the season to as low as 675, and it became increasingly difficult to know whether consigning or selling was the best policy.* The Mauriceville Co. always sold if possible and did again “this season, i>ut not to the same extent as might have been done, especially at the beginning of the year. Large stocks of butter were held in store at times through erratic shipping, and selling was hard to accomplish. The quality of Mauriceville ; butter still stood high, there being graded 75 per cent, finest, 24 per cent, first grade, and only 14 boxes of second grade. The finest included all butter that went on the local market,as Mauriceville Co.”s policy was only to sell the best locally. To keep up the quality the company had to spend much money on plant equipment and • service as &e balance-sheet Showed, but this had returned a handsome profit in raising -the percentage of finest butter. The payout for the past season though not high would compare favourably with other companies. The monthly payouts were as follow: July lid, August lid, September Is, October 9d, November Bd, December 7d, January .Bd, February 63, March "sd, April sd, May Bd, June Dfl, with a bonus of Id on February butterfat and 2d on the months of March and April. This gave an :average of 8.94 d inclusive ( of cartage costs. Local sales were difficult owing to price-cutting by certain factories to a price below London parity. During the year a Federa-' tion comprising the dairy factories of Manawatu, Wairarapa and Hawke’s Bay was formed to protect the local market and io keep better selling at least on London .parity pins reasonable charges for patting and distribution. The weakness of the scheuae was in the fact that two factories in this district did not link up, hence price-cutting and the results were not as good as anticipated. However, these factories had now joined up which would stabilise the local trade. QUOTA SUGGESTIONS.

Dealing with the suggestions made for quota or restriction of produce, Mr. Lemberg stated that this would be one [of the worst things that could fall on this young country. New Zealand had been advised to produce more and more and go in for mass production, and had been told again and again that the salvation of the farmer in New Zealand was to make two blades of grass grow where only one grew before. That had come to pass and where were ln the plight that they were now producing too much. How to quit our overproduction would become a major problem for New Zealand and he personally could not see a young country like New Zealand overcoming such a difficulty as this presented. New Zealand consumed 461 b. of butter per head and this he thought could not be increased to any great extent. The Danes consumed 121 b per head, and much margarine, hence restriction issues to them could not present the same difficulty. The Ottawa Conference had kept restriction back for three years and in that respect had done much good for New Zealand. They had another two years to run and before that time was up Mr. Lemberg suggested, as a solution for restriction, that New Zealand’s policy should be to let Britain have a free market into New Zealand as NewZealand had a free market into Britain. BRIGHTER HOPES.

In conclusion, the chairman stated that the coming season seemed to hold out brighter hopes and some improvement wgs in sight. A rise in price was anticipated but this would largely depend on several factors. Mr. Lemberg extended thanks to the manager, secretary and staff and his directors for their support during a trying year. To the suppliers he exhorted them to improve the quality as perhaps only finest butter would be exported. In these times it was not to be expected that dairy farmers could spend much money on improvements, but there were three things which each supplier could do without much cost to secure finest: (1) Cleanliness, (2) boiling water, (3) cream cooling. These, he considered, the essentials to produce the best butter and pressed them to give these matters their best attention. Three nominations were received for ! two vacancies on the directorate, Messrs. Donald and Rogers (retiring directors) and T. B. Heapy, of Greytown. Messrs. Donald and Rogers were elected. Mr. A. Keith was re-appointed auditor. Two notices of motion, as follow, were passed:—That Articles No. 25 and 26 be rescinded and the following be inserted in their place: 1 ‘That the annual accounts of the company shall close on May 31, and that the annual meeting shall be held not later than August 14.” That the special resolution passed at a special meeting of shareholders on August 14, 1894, and confirmed at a special meeting held on August 28, 1894, be rescinded: “That the directors be empowered to sell the factory and all other property belonging to the company or let the same to the best advantage.” The following resolution, proposed by Mr. C. C. Jackson, is being forwarded to the Rt. Hon. J. G. Coates, ActingPrime Minister and the Chairman of the Transport Board: “That this representative meeting of Wairarapa farmers protest emphatically against the provisions of the Transport Act as administered by the Transport Board by which competition in carriage and transport of goods is stifled, resulting in restriction of service to the primary producers and in every way acting against the best interests of the country.” Mr. Jackson, in speaking to the motion, cited a clause in the Act which stipulates that no one shall carry in his own ear more than one person outside his own family. A vote of thanks moved by Mr Jackson to the chairman and directors concluded the meeting.

GREENS DRAW FIRST BLOOD. Play opened quietly, Nunn being the first to show up with a fine solo effort, but a penally allowed the visitors to clear. Otago were securing from the serums, but the Green forwards were breaking up quickly and smothering the opposing backs. If anything, honours were with the visitors, when, after 25 , minutes’ play, Wairarapa. opened their account. From a loose scrummage in mid-field, Reid opened out to Keeble, who sent Fitzgerald and Stringfellow away. The speedy centre carved a hole in the opposition ranks to send Hemi across for a fine try. Hemi failed with the kick. Wairarapa, 3/0. Otago' evened up with barely 10 minutes of the spell left. Their forwards had worked down to the Green 25, where, from a scrum, Rae got his backs under way and a short passing bout saw McSkimming race across. McSkimming failed with the kick. Otago, 3/3. The standard of play had now improved -considerably and after three minutes of strenuous play, Otago took the lead. Caradus broke through nicely, but Roach relieved. Otago came again and a good rush resulted in Allen crossing. The same player couverted. Otago, 8/3. Wairarapa made desperate efforts to make up the leeway and a couple of minutes before the interval Nunn cut round the side of a scrum. He was held up, but Smith carried on to score Hemi converted. Wairarapa, 8/8. INCIDENTS AND THRILLS. Stringfellow put Wairarapa on athio but the defence held and Vorrath and Hore returned play to mid-field. Howard, Devine and Heid, however, were associated in a fine rush that threatened the visitors’ line. Hot play saw Wairarapa awarded a penalty and Hemi landed a fine goal from the side-line to put Wairarapa points up. The advantage was short-lived, Allen ttfrning a penalty to account a few minutes later. Otago 11/11. Play was now fast and exeiting ana both sides provided .plenty of thrills. Otago again forged ahead when Hamilton capped off a rush with a try. Allen failed with the kick. Otago, 14/11. But Wairarapa were not to be denied, and, following some fine play by Hemi, Nunn set his backs racing from a scrum in mid-field. Strange made a clever opening and handed to Fitzgerald, who short-punted over the Otago line. Stringfellow won in a race tor possession, to score. Hemi ocnyeried, making the score, Wairarapa, 16/14. Otago retaliated strongly and the backs- got away in a bright move“e?t\ „ The whole chain -handled safely and Allen put in a fine run before throwing a pass infield which McSkimming collected in his stride to score a splendid try. Rae failed. Otago, 17/16. Play continued at a great pace, and it L aS - ““yb'idy’s game. The issue was f C ,K "“'Y cr -- when a few minutes from tmie Wairarapa were awarded a tnni al fu a y“ rds ou t, and Hemi S th i j klCk t t 0 !and a magnificent goal and drag the game out of the fire mo a rJ ara ? a ’/a /lr ; ° tago made more splendid rally, but the Greens were on top now, and the final whistle sounded without further score Mr. F. Dean was the referee.