SOUTH ISLAND DAIRY ASSOCIATION.

Press, Volume L, Issue 14985, 4 June 1914, Page 11

SOUTH ISLAND DAIRY ASSOCIATION.

ANNUAL MEETING. (PRKa ASSOCIATION TE-UGRAM.) . DUNEDIN, JuneS. In moving the adoption of the annual report at the meeting of tho South Island Dairy Association, the chairman (Mr D. Ross Hunter, Edendale) said the season had been splendidly prosperous. The usual rule was for Homo buyers to begin operations each season in the North Island. They had to bny from perhaps 150 factories before coming _outh,_ and by that time the keen edge of their demand had been.dulled. But this year buyers started in the South Island, and, after strenuous negotiations, Edendale, ono of tho first factories to sell, had accepted 6Jd- per lb. on trucks for its cheese output. He believed that Edendaic's acceptance of that prico had resulted in tbo good prices that had been obtained generally. He did not believe in consignment, for so many things were liable to happen. He went on to refer to the prices that had been obtained for butter, which- had not been so good as they, would have liked. Three matters affected the market. The first was the strike, which caused four steamers to be held up. . These vessels practically left at the same time for Home and glutted the English markets. Prices dropped and were never" recovered. Then at the back end of the season British and European dairymen experienced a very good season, and heavy supplies of butter were placed on tho market, helping to make another glut. Tho last cause was the enormous output of margarine. So far as tho balance-sheet was concerned, they wero in credit to tho extent of £100.

The meeting- discussed the matter of fire insurance. It was stated that the insurance commisfi«n received by the Association amounted to £83 12s 2d. There were So factories in the Association, and out of these only 22 had insured through the Association, in somo cases only partially.

One speaker said that through want of cohesion among dairy factories, premiums had been raised from 10s per £100, to 22s fid ncr £100. Insurance companies could surely reduce the present high rate and still make a profit.

Mr Bolt said it might be interesting if he were to tell the meeting the experience, of bis company, some years s*go. When .insurance went up 28 per cent., his company considered that the thing was getting too stiff altogether, and decided to set apart £1000 as a nucleus of an insurance fund. That fund was now £4000, and during 15 or 16 years they had lost £400 in fires and saved £3000 in insurance.