N.Z. CO-OP DAIRY CO.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXV, Issue 4742, 25 August 1924, Page 4

N.Z. CO-OP DAIRY CO.

CHEESE FACTORY SUPPLIERS. MEETING AT SHELLY BEACH. Annual meetings of suppliers to the N.Z.. Co-op. Dairy Company’s cheese factories are now being held on. the Hauraki Plains. At Shelly Beach factory on Thursday morning Mr W. E. Huie presided over an attendance of seventeen, and in opening the meeting wait! that the year had not been h very successful one. Mr A. J. Sinclair, assistant manager, gave some interesting figures with reference to the year’s working. The low return was solely due to the low price realised. The coalmine was proving very satisfactory, and the benefit was now very apparent. Commenting on the item of £42 18s 3d for the dairy control levy Mr Sinclair said that this was the factory’s share at the rate of 1-16<1 per lb on butter and l-32d on cheese exported. The cost of administration for the factory was %d butter-fat, or about £l4O. A factor affecting the payout was the considerable amount of cheese unsold at the end of the year. At that, time the market was low and the stock was conservatively valued, but since then the market had risen and it was possible that a further payment might be made. The estimated bonus which might be forthcoming at the end of the month was 1.83 d. Of this, shareholders who'had fully paid up their shares would receive %d, and those who had supplied milk for cheesemaking right through the season would receive Id per lb butter-fat. Dealing with the cheese market, Mr Sinclair read reports from the company's London manager, Mr J. H. Wright, to the effect that the market was not too firm at the time he wrote. However, Mr W. Goodfellow was of the opinion that the coming season would be a good one for cheese. The Canadian farmers were likely to change over to grain growing, so there Would probably be a big reduction in the output from that country. Then there wap a chance that Germany would again be able to enter the market and purchase large quantities. In Taranaki a great number of dual factories would probably continue to make butter for many months yet. The company’s advice was, therefore, to commence cheesemaking as early as possible this season and to continue throughput.

Mr W. C. Dixon, superintendent o£ the cneese branch, dealt at length with the cost of manufacture and the question of quality. The working of the Shelly Beach factory had been exceptionally good. The amount'' of milk received was 7,127,1701 b, and the average test was 3.74. The yield of milk to cheese was 10.14 and the ratio 2.7. The amount of cheese manufactured was 702,7351 b. Of this, £2372 worth was yet unsold, and £20,272 worth had been disposed of. The amount of whey cream secured from every 1001 b of butter-fat received was 6.051 b. and butter made from this had realised £lOO4. The sale of starter cream had realised £514. Concerning the quality ,Mr Dixon said that throughout the company’s territory the quality had slightly receded this year over that of the previous year. At the Shelly Beach factory 3353 crates had (secured first grade‘and 121 crates second grade. The company had recently appointed a cheese instructor, who would pay frequent visits to all the factories. The cost of manufacture and delivery into the freezer was £l4 19s a ton. which was weli below the company’s- average. Wages were about the average, but the installation of electric power and .the use of the company’s coal had almost halved the fuel bill. A reduction in the cost of crates was to be expected, ais the company had imported a quantity of hemlock from British Columbia, and this would be shipped to KopuOrahi from the ship’s side. A great number of questions were then asked and answered. It was decided to commence cheesemaking on September 1. A vote of thanks was accorded the retiring committee, which was reappointed for the ensuing year. A vote of thanks to Mr Sinclair and Mr Dixon concluded the meeting.