NGATEA FACTORY.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIV, Issue 4595, 31 August 1923, Page 1

NGATEA FACTORY.

MEETING OF SUPPLIERS . The monthly meeting of suppliers’ committeemen was held at Ngatea on Tuesday last.. Mr W. EL Hale presided, and there were present Messrs W. H. Blakeway and Sing, of the company’s straff,'. Mr H. E. Harvey, the factory manager, and a small number of suppliers. CARTAGE ACCOUNTS. The secretary, Mr Blakeway, said that all the cartage service contracts with the exception of Kopuarahi had been cleared up. He gave particulars thereof. HERD-TESTING. Mr Hale said that this movement was advancing rapidly in other centres. A certain farmer had strenuously advocated that a group be formed on the Plains. He would firmly support any proposal. Members pointed out that the Farmers’ Union had talked of establishing a group on the Plains, but nothing had been heard from them fo r two months. A general discussion ensued, the opinion being that the matter should be deferred until next season, ap. the results of testing this season would not be satisfactory owing to the bad beginning. ANNUAL. MEETING. Mr Hale gave a resume of the annual general meeting of the Dairv Company held in Hamilton on May 31, and Mr Blakeway read a report of Mr Goodfellow’s address to that meeting. MARKET REPORT. ; Mr Blakeway stated that a London cable received the previous day had quoted New Zealand cheese at 112 s to 116 s, Canadian 108 s ,to 110 s; Anchor brand butter 184 s, Danish 1745, f.o.b. The market was firm, and looked like going up. He stated that this butter had been valued at 160 s for the annual balance-sheet. EXPORT CONTROL BILL. -Mr Blakeway explained the recent legislation on the Dairy Produce Export Control Bill,, and urged suppliers to .support the measure when it was put before them in the postal ballot. BUTTERtFAT PAYMENTS. Mr Blakeway said that the bonus would be paid on August 31. R would be,2%d for October, November, and December, l%d for JanuaryApril, and %d for May-June. Mr Hale announced that (J l6 advance payment for August would be Is 4d, and this would probably be maintained. ELECTRIC POWER CHARGES;. It was decided, on the motion of Mr G. T. Davidson, seconded by Mr W. McDuff, that the resolution passed at the. Paeroa meetings asking that the Thames Valley Ppwer Board be asked to reduce the charges for power to farmers be supported. FACTORY MANAGER’S REPORT. Mr H. E. Harvey, manager of the. Ngatea factory, reported that during the month repairs had been effected to the factory and the machinery and launches had been overhauled. Everything had been done by the company’s staff, and all the plant was now in good order. Up to the present the “make” had been practically the same as that for the corresponding period for the previous year. The grade notes had been satisfactory. No second-grade butter had been made during the winter. He was pleased to report that the quality of the cream received had been maintained. A few cases of taint, owing to dirty machines and the use of disinfectants, had been noticed. During the month one of the staff had been successful in gaining an engineering ticket. This was the fifth man to gain a ticket at the factory. Coal from the company’s mine was coming to hand for suppliers from the Auckland depot. He was now receiving orders for coal. Mr Harvey also tpuched on the mattei of the cartage of Kaihere cream, and the meeting decided to leave the matter in his hands. In response to a question Mr Harvey said that he considered bottleneck cream cans the best ones to useThis design stood up it,o hard wear better than did other designs.