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THE STRATFORD CO-OP.

TWENTIETH ANNUAL MEETING.

There were about 25 members present at the meeting yesterday morning in the Town Hall at 11.20, when proceedings commenced, but over 50 were assembled in the course of half an hour later.

Mr 11. Dingle, chairman of directors, presided.

I he report and balance-sheet (which have already been published in the “Post”) were taken as read. In moving the adoption of the report and balance-sheet, Mr Dingle, alter referring to his own suggestion re forming a dairymen’s dub in Stratford, came to the affairs of the Association for tho past year. He i said they must he perfectly satisfied with tho results. They had had a very fine season. The directors were fortunate in being able to dispose of the product of the factory at one shilling per lb. unsalted. There was a certain amount of sentiment among the directors as well as among the shareholders, but had they consigned the blitter instead of selling, it would have put the company in an unfortunate position, and they would have received something like £IOOO to £SOOO less than the amount they really got. The amount of the overrun was 16 per cent., as against 17 last year. There were good reasons for this, however, as the whole output was sent away unsalted. There was « difference of two per cent, between salted and nnsaltod. Last year they had disposed of a certain amount of salted throughout the Dominion. Sixteen per cent, was a fair and reasonable percentage. If the manager had brought it out at 17 per cent, there would, he only one way to do so, and that was in under-reading the tests. 1 They had to be very careful, as there was not much to come and go on, or they would be liable to a fine. Mr Dingle referred to the resignation of Mr Kirkman, the manager. Starting at £250 and house allowance, the directors had raised his salary to £3OO and house, but the offer Mr Kirkman received in his new appointment was £350 and extras. The directors may not have felt inclined to ' raise ‘the salary to that amount even if Mr Kirkman would have stayed with them, hut he (Mr Dingle) understood that it was on account of his wife’s health that Mr Kirkman was anxious to leave Stratford. The new manager was starting with them at £275 with house allowance. Referring to the formation of a manager’s association, Mr Dingle said that according to the scale of charges which , they. considered should he paid the amount for Stratford would lie £350. i £SO represented to them one per cent. . If they got a man who could get one ( per cent, more lie would be saving more than paid his salary straight away. Referring to the water-bore, which they had put down, Mr Dingle said the question of water for the factory was going to be a very serious one. The Borough Council might | cut off their supply at any time. He had paid visits to other bores, arid he' did not expect that the bore would cost them what it had. In Auckland they had artesian , bores. Everything appeared to he going well, and had the country been what they expected the cost would not have been more than £l5O, but they had struck snags in the twelve months they had been working. If the bore had been a failure he would have told them so that day, but ho did not think the £SOO spent on it would be lost. He admitted that as they went down they believed there was plenty of water, and even now he did not guarantee the water was there, but if it was it was a very valuable asset. Referring to casein, Mr Dingle said Toko had installed a casein plant. All that casein was worth was Id per lb. It was not worth so much as was sometimes made out. Mr Dingle dealt somewhat lengthily • with tho matter of the strike. No agreement or any thing else, ho said, would make strikes legal. They had done their host under the circumstances. It had been said that some of the amount for charges had been expended illegally, having ■ been devoted to the expense of the specials. He was not going in to the question of tho strikes, or politics, or whether the present Government was right. r J hey (the producers of Taranaki) had to handle the accumulation of butter and cheese; they wanted their money, and the Athenic was lying at the wharves waiting to he loaded with 3000 boxes which were stuck up. It had cost Wellington over £BOOO, which was made up of charges and special trains and accommodation of £1 per week on board the boat. Mr Dingle said that he saw a man working on the wharves who was worth £30,000. (Applause.) He was a man who had a family and could live in comfort. Now, after all, the cost of the strike was not much to them individually, being merely 6s each. Is it worth talking about, be asked There bad been some misconception regarding the statement that the money had been used in sending the specials to Wellington, Mr Dingle then went on to explain matters in connection with the workings of the Egmont Box Company, and later the details of the balancesheet. and the National Dairy Association affairs regarding manures. It crave him, he said, in conclusion great pleasure in moving the adoption of the report and balance-sheet. The motion was seconded by air Rawles. , ~ ... , In reply to questions, Mr Dingle said the cost of the water bore at the factory was under £6OO. They had found a plentiful supply of water at a depth of 170 ft. and expected to secure an inoreased supply at a 10-' C! depth. They had clone everything in the best interests of the company. Personally, said Mr Dingle, 1 have been more worried over that blessed bore” than anything in coimootmu with rnv own find the company s business for a number of years. > « trusted still that they would hud sufficient water ,there for the, comDimv’s requirements. * It was stated by Mr Lehmann that on 23rd June the pump had been going a!! day in th l bore while at a depth of 275 ft., and that the estimated supply was 1600 gallons per hour. Since then the bore had mt been pumped. There was no saying what the bore would bo worth to the company. . n The question of hearing Mr Gr j in explanation of a proposal for an instructor in agriculture and dairying was taken, and there was a good deal of discussion. A motion that M Gnv be Heard before lunch appeared *o bo on the point of being carrion when tho “opposition 'V.ulkcd uri ui

a body, and the meeting adjourned for lunch. IN THE AFTERNOON, VOTE OF THANKS. A hearty vote of ■ thanks was accorded the chairman and directors (especially the retiring directors) for their work during, the year. Messrs Sangster and Harrell returned thanks for the vote. ELECTION OF DIRECTORS. The following were nomlnted and, being the required number, Messrs G. Sangster, A. Lehmann and W, Collision,, were declared elected. Mr T. H. Penn was re-elected auditor. HUIAKAMA CREAMERY. In reply to a supplier to the Huiakama creamery, it was stated that the cost of repairing the roads round there was £4O, which amoint bad to be paid to the Whangamomona County Council before the work was done. The questioner said the work was not very satisfactory. DATE OF OPENING. It was resolved that it be a recommendation to the directors to hx the date of opening the factory and creameries at 3rd August, should sufficient milk be available, which amount was stated to be 50 gallons per day. CHAIRMAN’S HONORA RIUM. On the motion of Messrs Rallies and Lyford, the usual noucr.umm was voted to the chairman.--Mi D'nglo returned thanks. He said he was perfectly satisfied w'th the t’5G, bet he had made up Ins nod that when he left the posiVon he would move that the amount lie increase'!. Mr Dingle smiled as he added that there was the honor attached to vbe position. and the snare i n'.lors piesmt chuckled as they nosed the point. WHAT THE FLTLUE HOI.DS. The Chairman said the prospects for the future were bright. On account of the hold-up by ‘he strike, five boats arrived Home in one month, which was a factor no doubt in bringing down the prices of butter and cheese, but things would right themselves. While they were getting a shilling and over, it ivas not likely that they would take to cheese. (Hear, hear.) COST OF CREAMERY MANAGE-

MENT.

The secretary submitted the following:—

AGRICULTURAL LECTURER. Mr A. Gray, technical organiser for Taranaki, was heard after lunch. He urged that a grant of Is per ton on butter,, and 6d‘ on cheese should be voted by the Association towards the expense of the lecturer on agriculture and dairying. Mr Gray explained the objects, and pointed out that the Government ' subsidised the contributions from dairy companies £ for £. Last year 19 companies contributed to the* of the instructor. The reason he asked for a three years’ subsidy was in order to obtain the best instructor available. The instructor would attend in aiiy part of the district where required. The cost to the Stratford Association would be £3O. A vote of thanks was passed to Mr Gray for his information, and at a later stage of the meeting it was proposed by Mr R. McK. Morison, and seconded by Mr E. Marfell, that the Association agree to the proposal. Mr Lehmann warned shareholders about the number of people who wished to “pull” the company one way or another, reminding them that they would not get the money in the butterfat. 1 Others spoke in similar sentiments about being “squeezed.” Mr Rawles referred to the apathy of the farmer in the past in attending lectures on farming matters. Mr Gall referred to the great value of school gardens in the education of the people, making particular reference to the work done at Raupuha school, which had been in progress for about four years. The Chairman questioned the validity of a motion to carry out the proposal. Mr Marfell brought up the matter of the Association voting a sum to the A. and P. Association, but was ruled out of order. Mr Rawles moved as an amendment,J that the discussion be postponed until j next annual meeting, and that notice j of motion be given on the next annual balance-sheet, when ail shareholders could be present. This was duly seconded. i Mr Dingle again referred to the legality of carrying the proposal, stating that every opportunity should bo given to the shareholders, otherwise some of them might make it nasty for the directors. He intended to obtain legal advice, so as to bo on the safe side.

Oil being put to tho meeting, the amendment was carried, the voting being 40—6. A vote of thanks to tho chair closed the meeting.

s. d. Skinner Hoad ... 12 5 per lOOOgals. Robson Road ... 14 1 99 99 Toko ... 12 0 99 99 Toko Road 14 7 99 99 Gordon Road ... 13 3 9 9 9 9 Douglas 20 2 99 9 9 Makuri 29 0 99 99 Huiakamb 17 4 99 99 *

Permanent link to this item
Hononga pūmau ki tēnei tūemi

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/STEP19140728.2.3

Bibliographic details
Ngā taipitopito pukapuka

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXIX, Issue 82, 28 July 1914, Page 2

Word count
Tapeke kupu
1,909

THE STRATFORD CO-OP. Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXIX, Issue 82, 28 July 1914, Page 2

THE STRATFORD CO-OP. Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXIX, Issue 82, 28 July 1914, Page 2

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