SHANNON CO-OPERATIVE DAIRY.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVII, Issue 2925, 20 August 1925, Page 3

SHANNON CO-OPERATIVE DAIRY.

ANNUAL MEETING. The meeting of shareholders in the Shannon Dairy Company was held in the Parish Hall on Saturday afternoon. The chairman (Mr. It. W. Taylor) presided over an attendance of 30 odd shareholders. The Directors’ Report as previously published in the Herald, was read. In moving the adoption of the report Mr. Chrystall said that the past season had been a strenuous one owing to the loss of the Manawatn bridge and the staff were to he complimented on the manner in which they have coped with the difficulty of transport from Moutoa, and had it not been for the high cost of transport over the Manawatu, the company would have been able to make a higher pay-out for butterfat supplied. The report and balance sheet was then adopted. Messrs. R. T. Tippler and P. W. Brown, the two retiring directors were re-elected unopposed. The acting auditors, Messrs. Henry Kember and Sou again offering their services, were re-appoint-ed.

REPAYMENT OF PREMIUM ON SHARES.

Mr. G. H. Stiles moved the following motion, of which notice of motion was given at the last annual meeting: “That the 10s premium paid by certain shareholders on shares be refunded.” Speaking to the motion Mr. Stiles said that some years ago the company was in such a good state that it was decided that incoming suppliers should pay a premium of 10s on shares. He did not think this was a true cooperative spirit, and although the old shareholders had built up Ihe company, the new shareholders had to earn- on and he felt that this money should lie repaid and thus make the new shareholders feel satisfied. Mr Chrystall said he would second the motion as a point of just ice.

Mr. James said Mr. Chrystall’s present attitude surprised him as at a previous meeting he had strenuously opposed it. The chairman said he was opposed to the motion. It was not long ago that it was carried and the new shareholder was looked upon as a man entering into a good thing. In certain cases the position would be ridiculous as they would either he paying to men who had left the company or to those who had transferred shares, where no premium was paid. He did not think if necessary and he contended they were not consistent.

Mr. Stiles: I don’t thijnk we should penalise those still left in the company.

Mr. Thompson contended they should pay out to all, whether active or not. Some years ago when it was proposed he had favoured the premium, hut .he now thought otherwise.

Replying to a question, the chairman stated that no premium was asked now. The period when it was charged was from October, 1019, to March, 3023. The motion on being put to the meeting was carried. DAIRY INSTRUCTOR.

Arising from the minutes Mr. \Y. Carter asked what was the position in respect to the proposal to engage a dairy instructor. The chairman said the question had been seriously considered by the directors and they in their wisdom had turned the proposal down.

Mr. Stiles then moved: “That this meeting of suppliers recommend to the Directors the engaging of the services of a dairy instructor considering that it is in the best interests of the company to do so and that we make overtures to those companies in the district who have engaged an instructor to join with them in sharing the expenses of same.’' In moving the recommendation Mi*. Stiles pointed out that during the past season the company’s butter had gone back in the grading and he contended that the appointment of a dairy instructor would largely help them to get a good grade. Mr. Carter in seconding the reeommendatioiu said it was not satisfactory to suppliers to see sister companies forging ahead, of them in the grading. AD*. Barber said it had all been a question ol' L.s.d., that the proposal had been turned down. AD*. James said that since Levin had engaged the services of an instructor their grade had gone up, while with Shannon who had not employed an instructor their grade had gone down.

AD*. Chrystall said he did not want to .be mandatory as to the instructor, but the small farmer was uot to be the butt of the collar and tie man in the soft job. in his opinion the present grading system at the factory appealed to the farmer through his pocket. At this point Air. Ware, dairy instructor, who was present gave particulars of grading, showing that Shannon had gone from first or second in grading back to sixth.

AD*. Stiles said that if it cost £IOO per annum for an instructor, it would ouly cost each supplier of 5000 lbs of butterfat 7s (Id annually and he could not conceive it being thrown out. The motion was then put to the meeting and carried. THE PIG INDUSTRY. AD*. Gardner, representing Dalgety and Co., addressed those present on his company’s desire to stabilise prices in the pig rearing industry of the Dominion. He said

their scheme was to get an association of dairy companies to use one killing centre. They had chosen Feilding on account of its geographical position and suitability for killing, and they would act as brokers in the export of pork to the Home market. He painted out that JO per cent, of the pigs killed were not suitable for export and it was this which prevented co-op-erative companies from dealing in the export business. The lowesl number in each parcel would he 250 pigs and it would take a dairy company a long time to got the required parcels, but by getting a number of companies this would help to get the supply of pigs. They would not undertake to export all pigs if prices were better in the Dominion. The farmer would he paid on actual weight on the hooks at the factory. Mr. Gardner also furnished a lot of interesting particulars as in the requirements of other countries and the method of grading for export, purposes, at the conclusion of which he was accorded a hearty vote of thanks for his interesting address. After hearing Mr Gardner those present expressed their sympathy with the movement, and Mr Chrystall moved that they support, the pork marketing scheme as outlined, which Mr. Carter seconded, with the addition that the directors go into tlie matter with Dalgety and Co., to get the scheme on a proper basis. This was carried. A BRANCH FACTORY.

A recommendation was received from Messrs Thompson and Wood : "That this meeting favourably consider building a branch factory on the Moutoa sije of the Manawatu river considering the heavy cost of transport, very slow punt, and no bridge for some years to come.”

Mr. Thompson said he w-.is of opinion that such a branch factory would very soon pay for itself. Tie said the supply from Moutoa was increasing daily and he considered dial a branch factory would lie in the interests of the company, owing to the loss of the bridge and ■ilie unsatisfactory working of the punt. It would he more economical than the present extra, cost o) transport. He contended it would lie at least three years before the bridge would he erected.

Mr. Barber said if they built a factory, in his opinion, it. would he leading up to a severance. To talk about ihe present extra cost it would not bo as much as if they built a new factory.

The secretary, Mr. Murray, then submitted to the meeting 'figures which showed conclusively that to erect such a factory would prove a big loss to the shareholders at Moutoa and Foxton. Mr. Wood said their aim had been to get figures to see if they could run a. small factory cheaper than the present arrangement. Messrs. Brown and Thompson both agreed that was their idea and the latter then withdrew his motion. THE PUNT.

On | lie mol ion of Air. Chrystall seconded by AD. Richardson, the following resolution was carried: — ‘•That Ibis meeting of shareholders representing ISO suppliers, petition Ihe Public Works Department, Mr. Linklater, ALP., and the various local bodies pointing out the grave, disabilities existing in the workng of the punt, and earnestly request that improvements he made to make the mint more workable,” VOTES OF THANKS.

A hearty vote of thanks was passed to Mr Aim (manager), Air. .Murray (secretary) and the staff. The meeting terminated with a vote of appreciation of the good work rendered by Mr. R. W. Taylor as chairman of the company.