THE WAIKATO CO-OPERATIVE DAIRY CO., LTD.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 6, Issue 300, 10 August 1917, Page 4

THE WAIKATO CO-OPERA-TIVE DAIRY CO., LTD.

Circular to Suppliers. (advt.) Hamilton, 30th July, 1917 We enclose booklet "The Veterinary Surgeon." The information contained therein has been carefully selected from standard English Works, and is, in consequence, we believe, fairly reliable. In some cases the months mentioned may require to be transposed to suit this hemisphere. Further copies of this publication may be had upon application. The 1916-17 dairy season has come and gone, and the consensus of opinion is that 98 per cent of the Company's suppliers are more than satisfied with the result as far as their connection with the W.C.D.C. is concerned.

During the year arrangements were made for the purchase of the remaining non-supplier shares. Further, all shares offering by those giving up dairying have just been re-purchased at face value. The Company has to-day, therefore, probably fewer non-supplier shareholders than any similar concern in Australasia. The total share capital issued is approximately £35,000. At the present time the Company has some 20,000 boxes of butter in cold store valued at from £BO,OOO to £IOO,OOO. Of this quantity 5000 odd boxes will be shipped this week by the S.B. Baranga for London. The balance may be exported before the end of September. The future shipping situation is very uncertain owing to the magnitude of the recent Russian retreat, and all ships available may now be required to trans port the American Army. The position is serious but by no means desperate. Increased cold storage will be available shortly and pro bably further accommodation will be arranged for. We have prepared a provisional balance sheet, and acting on the recommendation of the South Auckland Dairy Association, have taken butter into stock at Is 5d lb. We find that at this figure the Company will be in a position to pay at later dates a bonus equivalent to 4|d lb on the whole year's supply of butterfat. Bonus payments will be made on a fair and equitable basis with due regard to advance payments and local and export values. The above statement must be particularly gratifying to the many suppliers who have consistently supported the Home Separation principle. During the past three years the W.C.D.C. has paid the highest average price (butter suppliers) in the Auckland Province £or butterfat supplied on the "daily direct" basis. N Z. cheese will probably be purchased by the Imperial Government, and in consequence the Cheese Co. advance payments may be higher than butter during the coming season. Final prices for 1917-18 are not likely to be less than this past season, although advance payments may be lower. The new factory at Tuakau is nearing completion, and will make butter on and after September Ist. You will be advised of the official opening later. We do not anticipate that Nathan's semi-co-operative Glaxo concern will do the W.C.D.C. any harm—one supplier only has left us at Matamata, while the Waikato Co-op. Cheese Co. has now two large cheese factories in that locality— Matangi does not concern us. We believe the average W.C.D.C. supplier will discount the "much arrogant speech" about the wonderful profit in Glaxo, and especially the (patriotic inducements) reasons why farmers should support same. Candidly, we do not think much of the proposition, It appears to us as if the farmers do all the work, N.Z.D.A. find the cash, and Nathans get the profits. However, no doubt we should mind our own business, and therefore just mention the matter in passing, in case some of our good friends may be uneasy regarding the supposed formidable rival product. Prospects for the W.C D.C. were never better, and the turnover for 1917-18 may reasonably be expected to exceed £500,000 ; while if we add our sister companies—The Waikato Co-op. Cheese Co. and the Finance Co.—the total figures will very likely exceed £600,000. The Waikato Co-op. Dairy Co , Ltd., is to-day probably in a relatively stronger financial position than any other Co-op Dairy Company in the South Auckland Province. This fact is largely due to the wisdom of your Directors in deciding to specialise in Home Separation only, and thus avoid costly side issues, such as cheese, glaxo, or casein, In conclusion we would ask sup pliers to remember the Coupanv is working under war time conditions A large number of our best men have enlisted, and in consequence our factory manager may have some difficulty when dealing with the weights and emptie a , in giving suppliers the usual attention, but you may rest assured the heads of departments will do their very best possible, We wish to take this opportunity of thanking most cordially our many loyal suppliers and friends who have so greatly assisted us in the successful introduction of home separation in the S uth Auckland Province.

Thanking you also in anticipation of jour support for the coming season.

Yours faithfully, The Waikato Co-op. Dairv Co, Ltd , W.m. GOODFELLOW, Managing Director

Later—On and after August 13tb cream will be received at Frank ton Junction factory on Mondays, Wednesdays or Fridays, until further notice.