N.Z. DAIRY COMPANY.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIV, Issue 4597, 13 August 1923, Page 3

N.Z. DAIRY COMPANY.

SUPPLIERS’ ANNUAL MEETINGS. The annual meetings of the suppliers of the N.Z. Dairy Go’s, three cheese factories on the Plains were held on Friday last. Mr A. J. Heighway, of .the executive staff, and Messrs G. Buchanan (director),, and A. Ta» tersall and W. Sing (of the outdoor staff) were present. Mr Buchanan apologised for the absence of the local director, Mr W. E. Hale,, who was too ill to. attend. Mr Heighway traced the operations of each cheese group for the season and explained the balance-sheets. He outlined the steps that, had been taken to improve the quality of the company’s products and the economies effected. He showed that substantial reductions had been made during the year in the cost of manufacture at all factories. The reduction averaged between £2 10s and £3 per ton. For the incoming year further reductions would be possible on account of an improvement in crate manufacture which would be carried out in the company’s box factory, and by the supply of cheaper coal from the company’s coal mine: The saving to be effected in these t,wo departments was considerable' and, together with cheaper, factory requisites,, would tend to further reduce the cost of manufacture. in discussing the means employed to raise the standard of the company’s products, Mr Heighway said that the company had been the first dairy company in New Zealand to employ a chemist. He had done a great deal to improve the quality of cheese by cultivating a pure lactic acid starter and sending regular supplies to all factories. This had tended to produce cheese of a uniform high quality. The question of moisture in cheese had been investigated, with the result that now this was practically uniform in all the company’s factories, with a consequent uniformity of yield. The adulteration of milk oy the addition of water had teceived attention by the chemist, with disasterbus results to offenders. Another branch of the chemist's activities was the testing of samples of all goods purchased by the company. Dealing with the economies to be effected in crate manufacture, Mr Heighway mentioned that a- machine had been installed in the company’s box factory to join two Bin boards to make crate ends. Eight-inch boards were considerably cheaper than 16in boards. The boards were tongued and grooved, glued with casein glue, and strengthened with steel clips. Mr Heighway then dwelt at length on the marketing of the products and the prospects for the coming season. More attention to the marketing of Anchor brand cheese was being given by the company’s London agent than in previous seasons. This cheese was now being systematically advertisedAT SHELLY BEACH. There were 14 suppliers present at the Shellp Beach meeting, and Mr D. J. O’Carroll was appointed chairman. . The following figures were given ny Mt Heighway:— The production of cheese for 4% months was 224’ tons, compared with 330 tons made in the previous season. The ratio, had been 2.63< which was very .satisfatcory. The average advance during the season had been 17.05 d, and the bonus of 4.9 d, which would be paid at the end of August, would make the total paycut for the season 21.95 d. This was very satisfactory indeed, being only .07d behind the premier factory (Gordonton),, with a total payment for the season of Is 10.02 d. As they had made* butter up to the third period in October they would receive on October butter-fat supplied for butter-making a cash payment of 2%d, exclusive of shareholder’s bonus of %d, which would be issued in the form of fuUy-paid-up shares, so as to carry no recurring liability. The cost of manufacture showed a reduction in all' branches, the cost of making one ton of cheese being £12.49„ compared with £15.05 during the preceding season. The average grade had been 90.43, compared with the company’s average )f 91.13. The factory had made 3174 crates of first-grade cheese and only 14 crates of second-grade. At the conclusion of the address questions were invited and answered. It was unanimously decided, on the motion of Mr J. Law, seconded by Mr B. McMillan, that a letter of appreciation be sent to the late factory ’ manager, Mr G. Harvey, who had left the industry to take up farming in the Bay of Plenty district. Messrs J. Law, G. Harwood, and C. H. Lawrence were re-elected to the committee. It was decided to recommence cheese-making on September 1. AT HUIRAU ROAD. Mr A. Sutton presided over an attendance of about twenty suppliers. Figures relating to the group were given- by Mr Heighway. The season s make was 244 tons, compared with 270 tong in the preceding year. The ratio was 2.65, compared with .2.57 the preceding year. The average test was 3.85. The advance during the season had been 17.19 d, and the final payment of 2.44 d brought, the total payment for the cheese-making period of six months to 19.63 d, being 6-04<! mere than in the preceding season. At the conclusion of the address numerous questions were asked and answered, and several complaints were noted by the company’s officials for investigation. In reply to Mr Zeigler Mr Heighway • said that a certain amount of low quality coal was found near the surface of all the mines in the Huntly coalfield. As the drives advanced the quality improved. All the coal produced at Glen Afton was good coal, and had proved very satisfactory. The saving to the company by having the account sales in London audited and a check made on the prices realised in comparison with that set by the agent in London had resulted in a saving of £12,000 in ten months. It was decided that it be a recommendation from the meeting to the directors that brushware be sold to

suppliers. It was decided to recommend to the directors that two test boxes be sent to the factory for the use )f suppliers who wished to take check tests. In regard to cool curing Mr Heighway said that experiments were being conducted at present at Hikutaia to ascertain if the claims for this were true. If the experiments turned put all right the necessary plant would be installed at all .the company’s factories. A hearty vote of thanks to a ladies’ committee, comprising Mesdames Newman, Madgwick, Henwood, Pearson, and Zeigler, who attended and provided afternoon tea, was carried by acclamation. The following were elected the suppliers’ committee for the ensuing year: Messrs A. Sutton (chairman), W. Madgwick, and W. Newman. A unanimous vote of confidence 'n the directors and management was carried. A vote of thanks to the directors for permitting suppliers to send their milk to the Turua factory during the time the Huirau Road factory was closed for repairs was also carried unanimously. It was decided to commence Cheesemaking the following day. AT NETHERTON. . Mr J. A Reid presided pver an attendance of about twenty suppliers. Figures relating to the group were given by Mr Heighway. The factory had produced 208 tons, a drop of ap proximately 50 tons, for the season. The average test was 4.2, compared with 4.12 the preceding year, and the ratio was 2.48, as against 2,54 last season. The average advance had been 16.51 d, and the final payment of 2.79 d made the total payment, 19.3 d, as against ,13.95 d last season. The average grade for the season was 90-82 points. First-grade cheese totalled 2833 crates and second-grade 14 crates. The cost into the freezer had been £l5 19s 2d per ton. In reply to Mr Harms Mr Buchanan said that the question of the low ratio had received considerable attention. The solution was that the test had been read high all through the season. Suppliers were receiving their payments month by month. The low ratio made the payout at the end of the year appear lbw. No blame was attached to the manager for the high test. The. manager had adhered' rigidly to instructions, which were at fault. This was the explanation given by Mr Harkness, of the Government Dairy Division. Tn reply to Mr Death Mr Heighway said that about 10 1 per cent, of the season’s output had been taken into stock at a conservative figure. After considerable discussion on the •question of shares and the share basis Mr G. Death moved that it be a recommendation to the directors from the annual district meeting that the basis of share allotment be raised to 1001 b butter-fat. Mr J. A- Reid seconded, and the motion was carried unanimously. The following were elected the committee for the ensuing year: Messrs J, A. Reid (chairman), .J. Harms, and F. T. V. Johnson. ' Mr G. Death moved, and Mr Johnson seconded,, a vote of thanks to t,he manager and his staff for the satisfactory manner in which they had carried out the work at the factory during the season.—Carried. At the conclusion of the meeting Mr G. Buchanan explained matters in connection with the N.Z, Meat Packing and Bacon Co., as was published in the “Gazette’ of Friday last. The question was discussed for an hour, but no finality was reached.