DAIRY INDUSTRY

Southland Times, Issue 24229, 12 September 1940, Page 11

DAIRY INDUSTRY

SUPPLIERS MEET AT BOGGY BURN

PROTEST AGAINST PAYOUT VARIATIONS

“For suppliers to milk an extra cow or two is not a very big thing, and, although it may involve some small hardship, it is really negligible compared with the sacrifice that the young men of the country are prepared to make,” said Mr G. Blanks, chairman of directors of the Boggy Bum Co-operative Dairy Factory Co. Ltd., at the annual meeting of shareholders of the company, when referring to the urgent necessity for an increase in cheese production- during the coming season to meet the general appeal made by Great Britain for the supply of at least 15,000 tons more cheese. , .

In moving the adoption of the report and balance-sheet, Mr Blanks, who presided over an attendance of 20 shareholders, said that while the pay-out was down by Jd per lb as a consequence of the sharp drop in the yield of cheese per lb butterfat the factory had return-, cd a figure which compared more than favourably with that of any factory of a similar size in Southland. Thanks were due to the manager, Mr M. J. Stewart, for his economical manufacture. Mi- Stewart had met with marked success* at Agricultural and Pastoral shows and this fact, combined with the huge increase in local sales, testified to the good grade of cheese that he was making. The suppliers, also, were to be congratulated on the fine average quality of milk delivered. Messrs G. Blanks, J. W. Cowan and L. Stevens were re-elected to the directorate for a further term of three years, and Mr D. Wilde; was reappointed auditor. It was resolved to write to the .Government authorities stressing the injustice of the variations in company pay-outs and urging a fixed price per pound butterfat over all butterfat used for cheese-making irrespective of the factory to which it was supplied. This would, it was considered, result in an increase in cheese production and a big saving in fuel consumption and transport costs.

At a subsequent meeting of directors Mr Blanks was reappointed chairman.

SEAWARD DOWNS

"The output of cheese shows a slight decline, 534 tons being manufactured this season against 540 tons in 1938-39,” states the annual report of the Seaward Downs Dairy Factory Company, Ltd. “All dairy produce manufactured for export was again taken over by the New Zealand Government under the Primary Products Marketing Act, the basic price for cheese being fixed at the start of the season at 8.42 d per lb. At the date of our last report, the payment to suppliers for the 1938-39 season was estimated to amount to 19.241 d per lb of butterfat, this being the actual amount paid. “The advance payments to suppliers for this season have amounted to 1/4 per lb for first grade and per lb for second grade, making an average to date of 15.9875 d. The unshipped stocks of export cheese have been taken into account at the Government purchase price for the respective grades, and the stocks reserved for local trade at 7id per lb. The appropriation account discloses a balance of £5626/17/3 available for distribution. The dividend to shareholders will absorb £9O/9/-. Further payments amounting to 2gd per lb butterfat will be made to suppliers, absorbing £5408/5/10, and the balance, after payment of income tax, will be transferred to reserve account. The season average payment will, therefore, amount to 18.8625 d per lb. “The directors retiring by rotation are Messrs J. Dunlop, R. J. McCall, and A. E. Howden. They are eligible and offer themselves for re-election. Mr C. W. Francis, F.P.A. (N.Z.) again offers his services as auditor. The directors recommend the payment of a dividend of 3 per cent, on the paid-up capital of the company.”