WANGAEHU DAIRY CO.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 76, Issue 188, 11 August 1933, Page 8

WANGAEHU DAIRY CO.

RECORD OUTPUT MADE ANNUAL MEETING HELD A record output was made by the Wangaehu Co-operative Dairy Co.. stated the annual report of the company, which was adopted at the annua' meeting of shareholders, held yesterday in the Wangachu Hall. Mr. S. Woodill, chairman of directors, presided. After the business of the meet ing an address was given by Mr. W. Foley, a representative of Foley Bros., London. Speaking to the annual report, Mr. Woodill said that the output of butter for tho season had been 645.7 tons, which constituted a record for the factory, being 145 tons more than last season. A total of 85 tons was sold on the local market, 193 tons f.o.b. for London and tho balance, 367 tons, was consigned. An average price of 8.82 per lb. of butter was realised. Plant had been kept up to a state of efficiency, and a new motor-lorry had been purchased. Costs of work ing, including the cost of cream collection, again constituted a new low record, 't'he cost to collect cream, manufacture and distribute the butter, including the delivery to f.0.b., was 1.39 d per lb. of butter, as against l.Sld last season. Of that amount cream collection cost .20d as against .23d last season. Advances to suppliers had averaged 7.47 d per lb. of butter-fat. The sum of £9131 16s remained in the appropn ation account, available for distribution, and the directors recommended that a further payment of 2 l-8d per lb. of butter-fat be paid to all sup pliers from October to Juno inclusive. I'bat was equal to I.BBd over the whole season and made the average payment 9.35 d over all. It was a very satisfactory result. “I have read a number of reports and I have not found one where the costs are as low as ours, so that 1 think we have every reason to be satisfied,” continued Mr. Woodill. "We have a factory here of which we can all be proud. It is in an ideal situation and will compare favourably with any other factory in the district. Taking everything into consideration, our costs are a credit to the management and factory.” The speaker said he would like to urge upon suppliers not to separate milk until cows had been in for three or four days.

Quoting figures to show the advances made by the company, Mr. A. Haworth, the secretary, said that the butter made in 1913-14 totalled 46 tons, whereas during the past year a total amounted to 645.7 tons. The expenses per ton of butter in 1914-15 were £26, whereas last year they were £l3 0s 8d per ton. Expenses per lb. of butter were 2.17 d in 1926-27. That had gradually dropped to 2d in 1929-30 and last year had stood at 1.396 d per lb. Expenses in regard to butter-fat had been reduced from 2.48 d in 1928-29 to 1.74 d last year. The port grading was 94.374, much the same as last year, and the factory was second on tho list. The report and balance-sheet were adopted. A motion that, a recommendation be made to the directors to consider tho question of installing a bowser at the factory was defeated on a show of hands.

It was decided that group and factory herd testing be subsidised as during the past year. On tho motion of Mr. H. A. Anderson a vote of thanks was passed to the directors for donating £3 for prizes awarded for mangold and calf club competitions among the Fordell, Turakina and Wangaehu Schools. Mr. A. P. Melville addressed the meeting and referred to the desire of tho Farmers’ Union to secure a veterinary officer for the district between Bulls and Waverley. He pointed out that Mr. Thompson, the Government veterinary, had been transferred to Dunedin and had not been replaced. In the Bulls to Waverley district there were some 18 factories, and if they agreed on the matter a first-class man could be procured for the district. It was suggested that the minimum sub scription might be 10s a farmer, with a maximum of £2. That would provide for two free visits from the surgeon and each visit thereafter during the year would cost 10s. The man with pedigree stock would probably be required to pay a little more, but that was a matter to bo adjusted. Mr Melville suggested that £25 might be given by the factory to got the scheme started.

After some discussion it was decided that a committee comprising Messrs. R. Stewart. M. E. Baker and C. Baldwin be appointed to confer with the Farmers’ Union on the matter and then to report back to the directors with any recommendation they had to make.

Directors were re-elected as follows: S. Woodill. P. T. C. Hodge, F. Johnston. 11. J. Castles, IL I. N. Melville, G. H. C. Jurgens and H Hiroti.