OUR BUTTER INDUSTRY.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 3, Issue 224, 25 August 1914, Page 3

OUR BUTTER INDUSTRY.

New Zealand D?.i"y Asoocia-

tioir's Business.

Referring to la't season** business, during the course of Ins address, Mr Spragg spoke to last week's annual meetrg of shareholders of tbe New Zealand Dairy Association as follows:

"Thisisiur comcany's fourteenth annual meeting. I again remind you that the business ot the first year of our existence as a cooperative company, thiit en years ago, was 1111 tors rf butter marufacti red, wi.ich rep en ned a c<:sh overturn of £105.197. These comparatively larg' figures for such ;;n early period in the industry's existence wtre due, rs miny of you will remember, to our having t ken over an established proprietory business For the take of comparison, I will r.'prat the returns for the year:—Butter manufactured, 5064 tons; overturn, £609,479.

"That ths year has been one of progicss is shown by our having edded 544 tons of butter to our manufacture. You will see that the increase alone is a considerabla volume. I think you will consider this satisfactory, especially as it indicates cohesion of tur co-opera-tive body There has been ps usuel some fluctuation, a coming and going of suppliers, tut cur general experience has happily been that suppliers have been returning to uur company after less satisfactory quests elscwtere. I am clad to repeat our general manager's statement that the character of our people to-day is ore of loyalty to and mutual h Ip of e-jch other. Difficultifs end misunderstanding* and conflicting opinions which were bound to arise amorgst such a mass of shareholders have been approached in fine spirit, so that to-day we probably have less difficulties !o hinder us than any of the kindred institutions in the country.

"The noticeable feature in the history of the dominion as affecting the dairy produce business for the past season was undoubtedly the indus'iial strike which occurred in October of last year. 1 left the Auckland wharf for Canada, United States and Eogland two days before the climax which closed your ports, and therefore c!o r.ot know from personal observation what took place. One thing connected with the local trouble I v do know, and perhaps understand better thsn any man here, excepting it may be Mr Pacey hirrself, and that is the enormous responsibility and anxiety which the strike entailed upon yrur gereral manager. 1 have learmd with admiration th?.t sudden as the trouble was cur business— a business particularly susceptible to attacks of that kind— suffered directly only in the minimum degrer. Day by day by some astonishing rma"s Mr Pacey found the necessary fuel for each of cur 80 establishments near and remotp, and day by day, without fail, every creamery and factory kept open and did its daily business. I count that a feat of management of which Mr Pacey might be proud, and of which you should be appreciative. I am aware that jour own belf-help in so quickly secunrg (he re-opening of the ports and the shipment of your produce was of signal importance. Bad as the results of the strike have been for the dairy farmer, he has himself to thank that he only touched the fringe of, instead of b< ing overwhelmed by, disaster."