VERY GOOD YEAR

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume 52, Issue 3294, 30 July 1943, Page 5

VERY GOOD YEAR

PLAINS DAIRY COMPANY ANNUAL MEETING HELD SUPPLIERS MEET AT TURUA The annual meeting of the Hauraki Plains Co-operative Dairy • Co., Ltd., was held in the Turua Buildings, Turua, on Thursday, the chairman, Mr J. A. Stewart, presiding over a fair attendance of suppliers. The chairman referred to the deaths of Messrs J. M. Mules, H. S. Hill, H. A. Mills; F. Beck, old members of the company and Mr A. Steedman, the company’s bank manager, the meeting standing in silence as a mark of respect. The balance-sheet and annual report (already published in the Gazette), disclosed that the company had experienced an exceptionally profitable year.

The chairman, in speaking to the balance-sheet expressed his gratification at the success of the company. The town milk supply had assisted the company decidedly, the price received being very satisfactory. Part of the cartage had been paid by the purchasers also. The price received had been somewhat better than the company would have secured for cheese-mak-ing.

He congratulated the manager and his staff regarding the amount of cheese which they had. secured out of the milk received and for the excellent grading which the company had attained. The starter room had been a great asset to the company in this respect. Co-operation Of Settlers

In conclusion, Mr Stewart stated that the past year had not been as difficult as the previous year with less staff and accommodation problems. All these factors had helped to make the season such a- good one. He thanked the suppliers for the manner in which they had co-operated during the season, saying the response had been of a nature which had helped the directors to conduct the affairs of the company in the most efficient manner possible. •

Speaking of the coming season Mr Stewart said that it might be necessary to replace some of the vats but the directors had this matter in hand and he thought it would be possible to purchase second-hand plant at a reasonable price from factories which installed extra vats during the drive for cheese. Painting also would be attended to when the time was opportune.

Mr H. H. Hicks congratulated the directors, manager, staff and suppliers in producing such a good balancesheet. Such a good position had been the aim of the. directors for years. The sale of milk to Auckland had definitely benefitted the company, while the greater yield of the right type of milk had also been of advantage to the company. Not Detrimental To Company

In conclusion he pointed out that those who last year had expressed the opinion that the erection of the office, the purchase of the old boarding house etc., had been detrimental to the company had proved wrong as had been borne out by events during the year. Mr M. Dalziel, manager of the Bank of New Zealand, Thames, congratulated the company on its successful year, stating the balance sheet was a very good one. It was very clear and disclosed careful handling not only by the secretary but by the whole staff and the directors. Costs had been reduced slightly and to achieve this under present conditions was very creditable indeed. Messrs Battley and Johnson were re-elected auditors. The retiring directors, Messrs J. A. Stewart and R. G. Flynn were reelected unopposed. It was agreed that the directors’ fees be increased to £1 per meeting, the chairman’s honorarium to remain at £5O per year. Statistics Statistics shown on the balancesheet were as under, figures for 1942 being shown in parenthesis for the purpose of comparison:— Pay-out per pound butterfat 1941-42 season (including .248 d Government grant on account costs increase), (18.4O5d); advance (average), 16.598 d; estimated surplus, 3.305 d; total average pay-out 19.903 d. Number of suppliers (81), 51; pounds of milk received, (25,238,489), 17,308,147; pounds of butterfat from milk, (1,020,238.4), 691,112.3; average butterfat test of milk (4.0423), 3.9929; total charges, including repairs and depreciation up to F. 0.8. at per pound butterfat, (3.880 d 3.646 d. Cheese-Making Pounds of milk, (24,76'1,332), 15,781,452; pounds of butterfat from

milk received over stage for cheesemaking (no deduction for loss' in whey), (997,333.0), 616.105.8; average butterfat test of milk, (4.0278), 3.9039; pounds of cheese (factory packing weights), (2,575,758), 1,605,420; pounds-of milk to make 1 pound of cheese, (9.613), .9830'; pounds of cheese to 1 pound of butterfat, (2.5826), 2.6057; average grade of cheese, (91.934), 92.808; milk grade percentages, first grade (92.765), 88.378, second grade (7.235), 11.622. Whey Butter Pounds of butterfat recovered from whey, (55,297.4), 34,114.4; percentage of recovery, (5.544), 5.537; total pounds of whey butter made, (67,134) 41,269; over-run whey butter, (21.40%), 20.97%; average grade of whey butter, (88.88), not graded. Sales of Whole Milk Pounds of butterfat in whole milk said, (22,905.4), 75,006.5. ELECTION OF CHAIRMAN MR J. A. STEWART RE-ELECTED At a meeting of directors held after the annual meeting, Mr J. A. Stewart was re-elected chairman of directors and Mr W. J. Bell deputy-chairman.