DAIRY INDUSTRY

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVII, Issue 213, 9 August 1937, Page 8

DAIRY INDUSTRY

THE RANGITIKEI COY. ANNUAL MEETING. (From Our Own Correspondent.) BULLS, Aug. 9. Tho 36th annual meeting of suppliers to tho Rangitikei Dairy Coy., Ltd., was hold in Bulls on Saturday, there being a largo attendance. Mr W. Purcell, deputy-chair-man, apologised for the absence of the chairman of directors, Mr K. W. Dalrymplo, who is in Canada on holiday. The balance-sheet, the first under tho regulations for (standardisation of dairy company balance-sheets, was of particular interest. During tho year tho output of tho factory was 1091 tons, an increase of 12 tons on the previous year. Mr Purcell congratulated suppliers on the high quality of the cream sent in, thus enabling the factory manager and his staff to produce butter of very high grading throughout the season. The Government grading of Rangitikei butter at tho port of Wanganui was 94.826, and although the Dominion average was not yet available it would bo found that Rangitikei wa3 close to the top of tho grading list for Now Zealand. Tho grading of cream for the year was: 92 per cent, finest, 7 por cent, first, and 1 per cent, second. The pay-out for the season, tho first under the guaranteed price scheme, was just over 133 d, being a fraction over one penny higher than the previous, year. However, operating costs ihad advanced by more than one-third of a penny per lb butterfat, to which had to he added increased costs on the farm. Over-all expenses per ton of butter were still comparatively low, being £l4 5s 2d, an increase of £2 15s on the previous year. If the increase in output continued, tho company would have to enlarge tho factory to make room for additional machinery. The output had almost trebled since the present factory was built. The largest itorns of expenditure to bo met by the company were wages and boxes. The latter had advanced by about 50 per cent., and, tho price bo ; ing fixed by tho Government, tho company had no option but to pay the increased rate. Two shillings a box seemed to be a good return for tho boxmaker. In regard to zoning, boundary agreements had been arranged with the companies in the Rangitikei area. In the Manawatu area many lengthy meetings had been held, and the Executive Commission of Agriculture had been very pationt. It had now been arranged that there would bo no change in boundaries in the Manawatu district for twelve months. Mr Purcell moved the adoption of tho report and balance-sheet. The motion was seconded by Mr W. J. Frecklington, and carried. This means the payment of a bonus of two and fivesixteenths pence per pound of butterfat, absorbing £19,200; and 5 per 'cent, dividend, £173. Messrs E. Openshaw and L. M. Taverner did not offer themselves for re-election to the directorate. They had acted for four years and ten years', respectively. Both had been live directors in tho interests of the company, and a hearty vote of thanks to these gentlemen was carried by acclamation. The result of a postal ballot was announced, Messrs M. D. W. Anderson, E. Gudopp and G. Young being declared elected. They returned thanks for the confidence placed m them. Mr A. Haworth was re-elected auditor.