DAIRY FACTORY MEETINGS

Southland Times, Issue 24825, 18 August 1942, Page 5

DAIRY FACTORY MEETINGS

HEKEIA.—There was a fair attendance of shareholders of the Hekeia Dairy Factory Company Limited at the annual meeting. Mr J. R. Nuttall, chairman of directors, who presided, congratulated members on what has been, under the difficult conditions obtaining today, a satisfactory year. The output was 126 tons, 15 tons better than last year and the payout at l/5Jd a pound butterfat was fully an eighth of a penny more than the payment for the previous season.

At a meeting of directors held later, Mr Nuttall relinquished the position of chairman, a position he had held for 22 of the 29 years he has been a director of the company. He was thanked for bis long and valued services. Mr John Martin was appointed chairman for the ensuing year. To test the feeling of the district, Mr Cyril Ward submitted a motion that the Hekeia Company be declared a union company and that it be an obligation on all suppliers to join the Dairy Farmers’ Union. After a full discussion the matter was held over until the directors consider developments to justify the holding of a general meeting of suppliers. • GROVE BUSH.— At the annual meeting of the Grove Bush Dairy Factory Company last night, it was reported that the quantity of milk handled and the cheese produced was the largest for many years. The total payments to suppliers for the season was about £7OOO. A final payment of l%d per lb butterfat was made to suppliers and a further .29d per lb was being held in reserve in the meantime to meet contingencies and would be paid out, if available, later. The increase in the guaranteed price for the coming season should permit a higher pay-out of .825 d per lb butterfat. The two retiring directors, Messrs J. Cooper and P. Duggan, were re-elected. Mr R. W. Thompson was elected to the directorate to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Mr Charles Warden, the company's largest supplier, who had sold his herd. The chairman referred to the valuable help to the company given by Mr Warden and his splendid service as a director.

The Dairy Farmers’ Union was discussed, and it was decided that the company should take no action in the meantime and should leave the matter to individual suppliers.