N.Z. CO-OP. DAIRY CO.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVI, Issue 4821, 6 April 1925, Page 3

N.Z. CO-OP. DAIRY CO.

NGATEA FACTOR!. SUPPLIERS’ COMMITTEEMEN. A conference of committeemen representing suppliers to the N.Z. Cooperative Dairy Co., Ltd., was held at Ngatea on Friday. Mr W. E. Hate (director) presided, and Mr A. J. Sinclair, general manager of the company, submitted a report on the operations to date. The attendance was -large and representative, committeemen from Ngatea, Waitakaruru, Turua. Patetonga, Kaihere, Kerepeehi, ano other districts being in attendance. Mr Sinclair stated .that, the company’s output this year, promised to eclipse all previous records, the following quantities having been manufactured up to the end of. February. Butter, 17,970 tons ; cheese, 3153 tons; casein. 487 tons; milk powder, 3242 tons. This output was about 400 tons ahead of the company’s previous record ini the butter branch, and ne was confident that over 30,G0O 1 tons of dairy produce would be manufactured by the company this season. QUALITY. The speaker dealt, fully wtih the question of quality, which, he said, was being well maintained. He-con-gratulated the suppliers to the Ngatea factory, which was well ahead of any other of the company’s factories in quality. There was every prospect of Ngatea winning the Weddel Cup this season. He pointed out that the competition ended at the end of April, and he appealed to the committeemen to get suppliers to co-operate with the fai.otry manager, as it would be a fine record for the Hauraki Plains if this much-coveted trophy was won by the Ngatea factory. (Applause.) MARKETING. ‘ A very full report was then submitted ou the marketing of the company’s produce for the present season. Cables wore read from, the London manager (Mr J. B, Wright) dealing with the present attempt oeing. made in London to “bear?’ the market for New Zealand butter. Mr Sinclair contended that evidence .of .this kind was much more convincing to the dairy farmers that a better system of marketing was required than all the resolutions passed against control by the Associated Chambers of Commerce. He congratulated the Hauraki Plaihs Chamber of Commerce on their sound common-sense in refusing to interfere With the farmers’ business. A detailed statement of the prices realised for all, the company’s butter sold this Beason was then given to the conference, and also a statement of the advance payments made by the company compared with other companies operating in the same, district. Mr Sinclair contended that these prices showed that the Ngatea branch of the Fanners’ Union acted vftry inadvisedly when it passed a resolution inviting competition from other companies, He- said he had received an assurance that only a few members of the branch had been responsible for thus, and that their action did not by any means represent the views of the farmers in Ngatea. (Hdar, hear.) Evidently,’ he-said, it was a case of the old proverb that “Fools rushed »n where angels feared to tread.” SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH. A report was then submitted showing the valuable work accomplished by the company’s chemists in investigating the losses which .occurred in the separation of milk. He pointed out that the results of these experiments were now being made available to the whole of the. dairy industry, and would result in large savings annually. He congratulated the Government on its decision to establish a scientific laboratory. Mr Sinclair also gave some interesting details in connection with the company’s policy on tlfe local market, the Dairy Control Board, and the company’s coalmine. - RESOLUTIONS. After a general discussion the following resolutions were unanimously : “That this conference of committeemen, representing 450 dairy farmers in the Hauraki Plains, whole-hearted-ly supports the policy of the Dairy Produce Control Board, as. outlined in the delegation’s report, and believes that absolute! control is essential to success in the marketing of New Zealand dairy produce ; also that we express strong resentment at the interference in our business by the Associated Chambers of Commerce. “That this Conference, owing to the publicity given to a resolution passed bv a few members of rhe. Ngatea branch of the Farmers’ Union, moves a counter-resolution to the effect that we have every confidence in the N.Z. Co-op. Dairy Co., and that we believe the only sure way to success is united effort in support of co-operation.” QUESTIONS. A number of questions were asked relating to turnip-feeding. Mr Treadaway spoke very strongly against this practice because it ruined the Quality of the produce. Mr Foster (factory manager) said that the-best -way to deal with turnips was to collect them carefully, place them on dry ti-tree in a high part of the paddock, and set a match to them. (Daughter.) Mr McKenzie (Waitakaruru) too* exception to this, stating .that cxerjthing depended on the manner in which the turnips were fed. Mr Sinclair replied that it the man■agement considered this problem only from the .manufacturing point of view the feeding of turnips would be prohibited immediately, because nothing 'had so detrimental an effect on the quality? - He said, however, that great hardship would be inflicted in certain warts of the territory if this rule was enforced. He considered that Ruakura State Farm should carry out experiments to determine, what brand of turnip had the least detrimental effect; secondly, what was the best me.thod of feeding turnips ; and, thirdly, what supplementary' feed could ftrown to give

proximately the same return for the same amount of labour. He expressed the opinion that the suppliers on the fertile plains of the Hauraki should keep turnips off their farms as long as possible.

Other questions asked related to toe difference between New Zealand and Danish butter prices, the method of allocating share capital, and full answers w T ere given. At the conclusion of the conference the following resolution ■was passed unanimously, on the motion of Mr G. T. Davidson, seconded by Mr J. C. Miller: “That this conference reaffirms its complete confidence in the directors and management of the N.Z. Co-op. Dairy Co.”

A vote of thanks to the chairman terminated the conference, which sat for three hours.