ASSET TO THE DISTRICT.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIV, Issue 4584, 9 July 1923, Page 4

ASSET TO THE DISTRICT.

N.Z. CO-OPERATIVE DAIRY CO. PAEROA BRANCH. Probably there are a. good many residents of Paeroa and surrounding districts who have not realised the asset they possess in having in their midst the Paeroa office of the largest co-operative dairy company in the world. The office is the means of bringing a large number of farmers to Paeroa at different times, seeking information on various dairying matters, assembling for meetings, etc. The secretary informs us that he receives numerous visits from suppliers from all parts of the Plains, along Thames ani Waihi lines, and fr,om Te Aroha district On one occasion a supplier made the return trip from Waitakaruru to Paeroa per the medium of a push bike —needless to say not during the winter months. This readily proves that Paeroa is a natural centre, and, being able to obtain information on the spot is a decided advantage over having to travel to the head office at Hamilton. From the business point of view there is no doubt that the frequent visits of farmers to Paeroa eventuate in business being placed with local tradespeople, and with the advent of good roads cpnneqtjng the outlying portions of the Plains the business should greatly increase, as no doubt still more suppliers would make use of the Paeroa office. The company’s fine suite of offices (formerly head office of the late Thames Valley Dairy Co.) is one of the most up-to-date in. the district, and an outsider would probably be surprised at the enormous amount af detailed work performed by the ,s)taff in order that the 1200' suppliers’ accounts can be prepared each month. Every ten days a return is received from each of the nine factories of the district, setting out the daily supply of cream or milk and period test. These have to be added up and the butter-fat worked put for the various grades. The three period totals are written up to the credit of the individual suppliers, and the advance price of the total butter-fat arrived at. The deductions have then to be made for buitter and cheese and goods supplied, cartage and orders on cheques, etc., and eventually, when the net amount is arrived a'., a statement is prepared and a cheque issued. A summary is kept of the monthly supply of butter-.fat for each supplier, and has to be totalled up at the end of each year to ascertain the number of shares required. There is considerable work involved in connection with shares and payment of same. Later, there are various bonus payments to be made out which again entail considerable work. In the meantime the monthly current work has to be -got through in times for cheques to be sent out on the 20th of each month, so that there is no slack time in the office, as some people imagine, especially during the winter months. In fact, the winter months are about the busiest time of the year. Three adding machines greaftly help in the multitude of figures that have to be added and extended, etc. The accountant and cashier’s department attends to the financing of various payments. The large number of cheques issued involves careful checking. Each month inis department prepares numerous returns foi statistical purposes and looks after payment of sundry cartage and other accounts. An insurance agency is also attached to the department. In addition to the butter-fat and accountant’s deparment work, quite a large business is done in connection with the sale of butter to storekeepers in the*” district. Accounts have to be sent out each week. There is also a large number of cartage contract charges which have to be apportioned out to the various sup pliers concerned each month, and a good deal of work is involved in this connection. The sum of £7270 was -pa>d for cream carting during past season. The total staff employed number ten. Attached to the office is the district organiser and the local director (Mr G. Buchanan). As an indication of the amount of business handled at Paeroa, the secrexary informs us that during the past twelve months the sum of £717,r 000 was paid out to suppliers. The amount of butter-fat for butter-mak-ing was 7,691,1091 b, and for cheesemaking 1,1774801 b. Total pounds of cream was 18,171,320, and milk for butter-making 10,263,0841 b ; milk for cheese-making 30,335,8441 b. The output of butter from the three butter factories totalled 4200 tons. These figures do not include the butter-fat and payments thereon from the Waitoa group of suppliers formerly attached. to the Waitpa and district cheese factories, now the Waito.i dried milk factory. Accounts for those suppliers are now kept, by the head office at Hamilton. Nevertheless, there is a substantial increase in the butter-fat handled by the Paeroti, office, quite apart from Waitoa group over preceding years’ total.

Mr G. Buchanan attends frequently at the office, and is only too pleased to meet suppliers and give them any information they may desire in connection with the company. The secretary, Mr W. H. Blakeway, will also be pleased to meet suppliers when visiting ' Paeroa. Copies of weekly cable prices realised for butter and cheese are received regularly at the office, and -are available to suppliers interested.

With the large acreage of land that is being brought into cultivation on the Plains year by year, the money circulated from the iPaeroa office of the Dairy Company grows proportionately. It is now in the interests of the public in. general that the local bodies should give close attention to the reading problems bf the Plains — hence ushering in a new era of nrosperity for Paeroa and surrounding districts.