A RECORD PAYOUT.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVI, Issue 4873, 4 September 1925, Page 4

A RECORD PAYOUT.

'plains cheese factories. MEETING OF SUPPLIERS. The annual meetings of suppliens to the N.Z. Co-operative Dairy Company’s Hauraki Plains cheese factories were held on Wednesday last. The Shelly Beach factory meeting was held at the factory during the afternoon, and the Huirau Road factory meeting in the Turua Buildings, in the evening. Mr Parlane, assistant general manager, Mr W. C. Dixon, cheese supervisor, and Mr W. E. Hale, local director, were present. At Shelly Beach Mr W. E. Hale presided over twenty suppliers, and in opening the meeting explained that the past season had been a very satisfactory one. In fact, the factory gave an equal return to. any factory in the Auckland province, and no other factory in the province was known to have approached these two. This was attributable to the policy of consigning all the output. Mr Parlane said that the company had had a particularly good season in all its branches. Increases of output had been recorded in all departments, and the quality of the output had been well maintained. This was of the utmost importance, in view of the fact- that in the near future all dairy products would come under the Control Board. At Shelly Beach 91.62 per cent, of the mlik received wassuperfine and 8.38 per cent, firstgrade. The average grade of the cheese made was 91.06 points, and 4300 crates of cheese had been graded first and 325 second-grade.

Mr Parlane dealt at length on the need for close attention to the cleanliness of milking machines, and stressed the using of boiling water. Dealing with the marketing ol Shelly Beach cheese, Mr Parlane read reports from the company’s London manager indicating that the future was very bright. The export of cheese from New Zealand had increased steadily since 1915, whereas the export from all the other countries had decreased steadily during that period. Mr Parlane explained the financial position of the company, which was improving steadily, so that while it had been able to do better than other companies in the past it would be able to do very much better in. the future. On account of the improved financial position of the company it was now possible to allot fully paid up shares instead of contributing shares as in the past. This was of great advantage to the supplier, as it was possible that his’ supply might decrease in future years and then he would have too many shares. Mr Dixon explained the profit and

loss account of the Shelly Beach factory in detail. The average test of the whole of the company’s factories was 3.823, and for the Shelly Beach factory 3.796, an increase of .056 over that of the previous year. The gross ratio for the Shelly Beach factory was 2.676, which was slightly higher than in the previous year. The whey cream recovery per 1001 b of butter-fat received was 5.29 for Shelly Beach, as against 4.93 per cent, for the rest of the factories. The pounds of milk taken to make one lb of cheese was 9.84, compared with 10.14 for the previous season. Taking these facts into consideration it would be seen that the high payout ,of the factory was due to economical methods of working.

Mr Dixon then dealt with the question of the manufacture of cheese from standardised milk, and the negotiations; that had led up to the representations made to the Department of Agriculture by the company and by the National Dairy Association. He detailed the results of experiments made in the company’s laboritory and mentioned that the Control Board s Delegation had advocated standardisation. Should the manufacture of cheese from standardised milk be permitted, if conducted on ergulated lines a large amount of money ■would be received by ’ New Zealand farmers, and there would be no detrimental effect on the market, but rather an improving influence. If carried out on proper lines suppliers would get an improved return from their factory.

Coming to the profit and loss account of the Shelly Beach factory, Mr Dixon gave figures which proved that the working costs were very satisfactory. A marked decrease had been effected over that of previous years, and the cost now could only be classed as excellent.

In fuel economy the factory compared very satisfactorily with others-, considering the heavy cartage costs of 17s. a ton. Fuel cost 15s. 7d. pe‘r ton of cheese manufactured, compared with £1 Bs. 2%d. for the - previous season, though it must be taken into consideration that the amount of rebate allowed by the company’s coal mine helped this low rate. Other charges were normal. The coist of manufacture and delivery into freezer ■was £l2 10s. 7(j. per ton, or £l4 ss. 2%d. when all items were taken into consideration. The "cost of working was very low, considering the geographical position of the factory, and proved that the manager had been very careful, and dese’rving of compliment. , The payout of Is. 8.4 d. per pound was- the highest of all the company's cheese factories, and was also the highest in the Auckland province-, as far as is known. Mr W. E. Hale then explained the financial position of the factory, and showed that it was in a very satisfactory state. The factory was paid for, with the exception of a few hundred pounds, and when this was done shares would be resumed as from butter suppliers. Interest would not be paid, but suppliers would get the shareholder’s bonus of %d. per pound of butterfat. , In reply to a question by Mr J. Law, Mr Dixon said that so far only one factory had asked for a refrigerating plant to be installed in the cooling room. If suppliers desired an installation the company would consider the matter. Hikutaia and Matama.ta already had refrigerating plants in operation, and the operations of these plants tended to Improve the quality. He was of the opinion that in time

to come all curing rooms in the Auckland province would have refrigerating plants in use during the isummer months-. It was desirable to keep the temperature down to- 65 degrees for proper curing . He was of the opinion that a decided advantage would accrue from the use - of cooling, but could not support the extravagant claims of savings made that were being circulated. The refrigerating plant would be of use in controlling the temperature of the water used for cooling the vats. It was moved by Mr J. Law that Mr Dixon obtain full data, and lay same before the suppliers’ committee. Seconded by Mr L. James, and carried. The tollowing suppliers’ committee was elected: Messrs D. L. Law, L. James, and D. J. O'Carroll. Mr Parlanc moved a vote of thanks to the retiring committee, and this was carried by acclamation. A .vote of thanks to t-he representatives of the company was moved by Mr J. C. Miller and carried by acclamation. Mr W. E. Hale returned thanks, and also thanked suppliers for returning him to the directorate.