PRODUCTION FALLS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 83, Issue 168, 19 July 1939, Page 11

PRODUCTION FALLS

| TAIHAPE DAIRY CO. HIGH COST OF BOXES There was. a satisfactory attendance of shareholders at the 35th. annual meeting of the Taihape Co-operative Dairy Company. Mr. D. Stent, chairman of directors, presided and the following directors were present: Messrs. E. W. Spooner, F. Ward, J. Lougiinane, P. Kearins, F. L. Collins and T. W. Pairman. Reviewing the past year, the chairman said that the unfavourable weather was responsible for a reduction of 37 tons in the output of the company. He predicted that there would be an increased output during . the coming season because there was , every likelihood that sheep farmers would be running a few cows. The plant was in good order and a credit to those in charge of it and the shareholders could face another season’s operations without fear of a breakdown. "The universal farm dairy instruction helped to improve the gra’de oj the butter as sometimes we do things , in ignorance that are detrimental Lu our trade,” said Mr. Stent. The manager and his staff deserved to be complimented on the grading figure of 94.77. Factories with a higher grading did not export the whole of their produce, but had a large local trade which the Taihape company did not possess. Dealing with costs, he said that the t biggest item was boxes which had risen to 2s 2kl from Is 4d to Is 7d a , box. This caused the directors some anxiety, particularly as Taihape w«v in the centre of a timber district. The i Minister of Marketing was written tc but his reply was not satisfactory. The , matter had also been discussed at a conference of dairy companies at Taumarunui and Mr. Nash had been advised of the undue hardship. The matter of high transport costs was . also mentioned to the Minister, but he said that no relief could be given. Mr. Stent said that the financial position of the company was sound; in fact the position was second to ; none.