MIDHIRST DAIRY CO.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXX, Issue 96, 25 July 1916, Page 3

MIDHIRST DAIRY CO.

AN INTERESTING MEETING. The twenty-first annual meeting of shareholders of the Midhirst Co-opera-tive Dairy Factory Company Limited, which was held in the Midhirst Public Hall yesterday, was a record meeting from an attendance point of view, the hall being packed within live inmates of the opening of business. ■Late arrivals found standing room only in the porch,'and a few lucky, ones secured places of vantage on the stage amongst directors and officials of the Company. /

If the word “co-operation” is synonomous with “friendly relationship,” the Company is well named, for in.its twenty odd years of life, its present secretary (Mr R. J. Hogg) has held the position for over nine years, while its works and stores manager (Mr F. ivleernan) has been a servant of the Company for over fifteen years past. In addition to this, four of tho Coup, pany’s creamery managers have been employed for over ten years, while, records of six t 0 eight years service are quite an “every-day item,” -*BO far for the “co-operation” of directors and .staff. , .

The Chairman, of Directors (Mr William Skedgwell) who has been ,for nine ye.ars a director of the. Company, and chairman for the last three, reported,on the worjv of the past season; inter alia, a s follows: In moving tho adoption of the report and balancesheet, I congratulate the Company on a record season, both as regards the pricq. obtained for ou.r., butter and the large increase in the output of 105 tons, showing a marked improvement in our method of farming, and the management of our, herds. Dining the season, we have had two schemes placed before ns; Dried Milk ami Casein. The. former proposal was placed before us in such a favorable light that it strongly appealed to the directors, and the question was gone into very thoroughly, but at the Ifnal stages, when the contract was placed before the directorate, the clauses, conditions, and restrictions, were such, that tho proposal could not he recommended- to the sliareholdeis. Regarding Casein, at the moment this has ti much better outlook, and all information as to prospects, price, cost of installation, etc., is being gathered with a view of placing it before the shareholders at an early date; probably later to-day at this meeting the question may he ventilated and further light thrown on it. The adoption of the report and bal-ance-sheet wqs seconded by Mr G. W. Bloxhaim; and carried unanimously., STANLEY ROAD CREAMERY;- : In referring, to the. Stanley Rond Creamery which had heqn disposed of, the Chairman .stated that ,motor , traction was rapidly-Taking the place. of tjie o}c|-time farmer’? rCpi;t, t and that the. Company had invested in a motor waggon at,a,cost qf over,£Boo. Ihe waggon wou,ld: arrive ngxt. week, and would probably he supplemented by another one at- no distapt-vdate. ‘ ‘CONTINGENTWAB I LITTES. ’ ’

t Mr Petersen asked , for-'information a s to the Company’s Ua ; hiliti©a, in. connection ..with the Egmont Box Company, and the Taranaki Freezing Company, and the Chairman, prwnised to consider the matter of ineinding same im further reports of/ the Cpmpany. The items referred to appear on the

balance-sheet ns , “qontingenfc liabilities,” the correct: figures being: Box Company, 3329 shares with a liability of £371 12s; and Freezing Company shares, 1601, with a liability of £2ll Bs. THE SHARE CAPITAL. The Chairman stated that it might be necessary .to increase the .sharecapital before long. References to the stock, account, as shown in the balance-sheet, were answered by the Chairman to the satisfaction of Mr Petersen. . ... BONUS TO SUPPLIERS, , Mr Q. Sangster . protested against the Company, paying a bonus to those supplying milk in winter from .short distances:, while those at a distance were debarred from supplying. He thought that in May, Juno and July, milk should be paid just, what it made, anl that no bonus be paid. Mr J- M, Shotter said ,the position must be faced in a co-operative spirit of “give.-aud-take,” and it was no use discussing the difference in the one or two months, what was lost in ono way was/made up, in another.;./' PRIZES FOR BUTTER. , Mr T. Cuthbert asked the Chairman why no prizes for butter had been secured by dairymen from the district. Mr Weston: “Does the price of our butter compare favourably with that from other factories” ? The Chairman: “More than favorably. We get more for our butter. Mr Weston; Then that is a good answer to Mr Chithhert’s question. (Hear, Hear I) Mr Ferguson asked how it was that blitter had been shipped home during the past season “half and. half,”—(i.e., half quantity salted and half quantity nnsalted), when by sending all nnsalted butter much better prices would have been realised ? The Chairman replied that they were bound to a great extent by the advice of their buying agent, and it was on that advice that the butter had been sent forward in the manner referred to.

Mr Susans stated that he had been connected with the directorate of a cheese company for a considerable time in another, locality., and when the Company shipped “white” cheese the agent complained that “colored” was in bettex;. l deuian.d—and .vice versa —one could never be, sure of catching the market, and the safest plan was to act on the ageut.’,s..advice. COW-TE,STING.

Mr E. Kirkwood moved that the Company adopt the cowrfesting principle as practised by other Taranaki companies,. the testing charges, to bo debited to working expenses, hi speaking to the nio^Qii, Mr Kirkwood ' said that if his motion, were adopted,' it wwil.dj.nieap • that many suppliers their cows, tested who neglected to do so system, • and the result would be benefit..to .the , individual, farmers and the Company too. .Hie stated that the. Kaupokonui company through adopting the system had made wonderful progress.- In .pinny .-.instances, herds had been reduced . 25. per cent,,, jind the butter-fat production increased. ‘ The motion was. apposed by ,Mr G. ' Songster, who objected to the Com- ; pany having to pay, and by Messrs Susans and .Cuthbert, and another speaker, who stated that bo carried out his tests himself and did not nlto : , gather agree with the policy of “whenever you want to get something for, nothing from the other man,” co-oper- 1

Mr Kirkwood, In reply, stated that where the suggested system had been followed it had resulted in raising the standard. His object in suggesting tile innovation was only to impioyethe Midhirst supply and benefit shareholders. , The Chairman, in reply to Mr Leonard, could not say exactly what the testing would cost, but inquir.esl could be made. r- \

A shareholder: “Orie speaker, said just now ho uses his .own - (commonsense in fixing his tests. Wha,f. about Mr Kleemau using his . commonsense in fixing the test without .putting it through .the bottle?” (Laughter). The motion was lost op. the voices. TURNIP-FEEDING. ( Mr Cuthbert moved: That, no pnilk be received from suppliers;,feeding their cows on turnips.” He considered the time, would, come when butter from such a source would be turned down. , ; -.1

.The , motion lapsed for want of a seconder, ... - ; - •

Cuthbert: “Well, Ell try another. ..one. I move: nalk stancls be covered in and built with a southern exposure.” .This, was seconded by Mr J. Fabisli, and after discussion, lost on the voices. ■ -r-j'-s - . ■ r. OUR STORE. Mr Wellington raised the question of the store management. He considered .the time had.arrived when the Company should extend its business, and consider the. advisability of extending the store, and increasing Saveliienco for the benefit of suppliers. , , After considerable discussion and reference to special local conditions, it was decided to take no action at present. ‘ MANUFACTURE OF RENNET. Mr Richards, chairman of the Cardiff Dairy Company, wrote askjng-,the meeting to consider the best means of assisting in the manufacture and supply of rennet. Owing to the war, tlio Russian Government had . .stopped the export of veils, and if the dairy faiijiyrs would collect the veils from- all calves killed, a sufficient supply could be obtained for the manufacture of rennet. .Mr Richards pointed out that one veil would only make sufficient to make one cow’s milk into cheese for the season. The other points he made were (1) that the dead calves would bring more profit; (2) ft would keep up the price of butter ; and (3 1 it would assist ip feeding our soldiers with fbe food they value. The Cardiff Dairy .Company would purchase all the veils at the Irguest price, and, if necessary, expart them tq England or Denmark for manufactui:e., t jl.. •,

On, the motion of ,Mr Kendrick, seconded.by, Mr Susans, it was agreed that the Midbirst farmers would do wh.at, it. could to supply veils to the Copipanyv ~v ,

BUTTER. AND CASEIN vt CHEESE. Mr Phil Nathan, of Wellington, ad-., dressed , the,.meeting by invitation.; stressing the importance of casein, manufacturing. He submitted a list of the ever-growing uses .to whicji, casein could he put to, and stated that, his was tp. enter into an agreement ..with’,, supr, pliers for three years at £55 per top c.i.f. London., Hq- was convinced that when the war was. pver cheese would, net compare in value with butter, plus casein. ....

Mr., Shutter strongly opposed the suggestion that suppliers should tic themselves' down to any company by niaklng agreements as suggested. was no doubt that the manufac-, turo of casein would he a profitable, investment to shareholders,.,hut they should .put up their own drying plant and keep the profits to. themselves. Money invested in the installation of the necessary plant would he well spent if it cost even £IO,OOO.

Mr Nathan agreed with much that BJ|>; Shatter said, but strongly advised the meeting to do something definite in the matter, as they were at present losing both timeuand money. On the motion ;j pf Mr Susans, it was res'olved to recommend tlie directors to consider the matter of casein prospects, and when satisfied, call a meeting of shareholders to consider the means of raising the necessary capital to enable the Company to equip all its creameries with tlie necessary plant. ELECTION OF AUDITOR. Mr T. H. Penn, the retiring auditor, was unanimously re-elected. DIRECTORS. There were four vacancies on the Board, and nominations were received from eight candidates, Messrs W. J. Wellington 618, W. Skedgwell 601, George Sangstor 519, and P. J. Petersen ‘7l, were declared-duly elected. The unsuccessful candidates ami the vote’s • polled were: A. Uhlenherg gaf». L. Baskin 2(1, W. J. Kendrick o'p end H. Kirk by 158. Mr E. Kirkwood acted as scrutineer.. A hearty vote of thank; to the chair /(. : - cd by acclamation) closed the’ meet ink-