NATIONAL DAIRY ASSOCIATION.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXII, Issue 187, 25 July 1900, Page 2

NATIONAL DAIRY ASSOCIATION.

BIXTH ANNUAL MEETING. Phe sixth annual meeting df the National Dairy Association was held at ;he Masonic Hall, Stratford, on Tueslay, over 30 members being present when the business commenced, but ater in the day the attendance was touch larger, Mr. J. G. Harkness presided, The following report was read i Gentlemen—ln, presenting the Sixth Annual Report knd Balance Sheet, we are again able* to congratulate Members, and Dairy Farmers generally, on a maintenance of fair prices for butter, and good prices for cheese during the past season. High prices prevailed in London during September and early part of October of last year for Australian butter, reaching 120s per cwt. A rapid fall, however, took place till the middlo of November, when tOOs was quoted. An upward tendoncy was then shown, and by the time onr first shipment arrived on December 13th, 105s was obtainable. A fall set in to 98s on January Bth, at which figure it was steady until February sth, when an improvement was shown in 100s on February 19th, followed by a steady deoline to 98s on March sth, and !14s on March 16th. This price was firm till May 18th, when the market fell to 90s, continuing at that figure till latest reports received at end of May. The first shipment of cheese readied Loft don by the " Waiunte " December 18th, the market being then firm at 58s rising to 60; January Bth. It dropped back, however, to 58s January 15th and remained steady a* that figure till February 12th from whiol date 59s was obtainable to February 26th followed by a further rise to 61s on Marcl sth, continuing firm at that good price til May 11th when 69s was the best offer, thii figure still holding at latest advice, end o

May. The fortnightly departures from the Colony were fairly well maintained, disasters to gome of the regular linen, and others being taken up by Government for transport service, seriously upsetting the time-table departures during February and March. The arrivals in London, however, were not so satisfactory. Next season, with an increased number of available steamers, and It is to be sincerely hoped nothing in the shape of warfare to interfere with Hew Zealand commerce, we may reasonably expect an improvement in the punctuality of the service. The cheese shipments have not been carried out so satisfactorily to members as we could wish, owing, in a measure, to factories failing to notify their requirements early enough to enable sufficient space to be secured, and also to the fact that cheese storage is limited to the capacity of the chambers on the vessels, a fact which members should recognise. If arrangements can be made for all Home shipment cheese to bo sent direct from factories to Wellington, shipments will be carried out in a more satisfactory manner to all concerned. Representations on this point have boen made to tho Department of Agriculture, - The quality of the factory butter and cheese as evidenced in reports from Home, has been maintained, and, in many cases, improved. We fear, however, that the growth of tho " home separator " movement may have the same effect here as it has in Australia, thai is, a detonation in quality, and a consequent injury to tho general and at present, high reputation of New Zealand butter. At the termination of the Home ship- , ment season, it would be in the interests of , manufacturers to supply the Association's office with periodical information as to their ' quantities of produce for disposal and price rfquired. Buyers would be led to treat ■ with the Association, sales would bo readily , effected, and advantage and convenience would result to both partifs. The Associa- ' tion's office would be tho recognised market. A satisfactory increase in membership has i to be recorded, the number now standing , at forty-five, and a still further increase is confidently anticipated, The Association's business has increased i accordingly, goods having boen purchased locally for members to the extent of £O3O j and indent orders for 144 tons salt, 912 gallons oil, 60 bales paper, 370 gallons ren--1 net, 20,000 yards bandage, 68,000 caps, etc., 1 have been placed for next season's supply. The benefit of this new departure will be i speedily appreciated by members who have [ supported tho Association in this direction. In connection with this subjeot it would be 1 very desirable if cheese factories could 1 adopt uniform sizes of cheese. At present ) many sizes of bandages and caps are re- , quired, in comparatively small quantities. Such orders are difficult, and even impos- ' sible, at times, to place. Were uniform 1 sizes adopted manufacturers would bo moro willing to take the orders, and factories . would not run the risk of being unable to obtain their requirements. Tho Tiro Insurance branch of tho busi- ' ness shows a substantial increase, the . Policies effected through the Association ; totalling £29,480. , In Marine Insurance not much support has been received, £16,000 being amount of insurances effected, the majority of Members presumably availing themselves of i their Consignee's Policies at London rates. i Members are urged to protect all their transit risks from factory door. Considerable attention has been drawn 1 for some months past to the imposition of ' Income Tax on Dairy Companies. Action i against this tax is being taken by a com- , bination of the Wairarapa Dairy Companies, and you are invited to consider and decide at this meeting what assistance, if any, 1 should be given by Members towards defraying the legal expenses incurred by . these Companies in contesting the points involved. 1 A scheme for the re-adjustment of Mem--1 bers' Subscriptions has been prepared and i will be submitted to yoa, the object being L to make a scale of subscriptions nndor which the smallest factories and dairymen will be induced to support the Association, and make it the large and comprehensive i body it should be i The year's export from the whole of New , Zealand shows a remarkable increase in quantity and value. ; Year ending June 30th 1899—Butter: : 109,430cwt; value: £449,718; Cheese i 61,4490wt; value £126,671. Tear ending i June 30th 1900—Butter, 158,345cwt; value £681,804; cheeso 101,073cwt, value, 1 £222,891. Increase —Butter, 49,005cwt; value, £232,086; cheese, 39,624 cwt; value, . £97,220. And the following table gives the exports ( and values from tho North Islands ports:— Exports of butter and cheese from tho ' North Island for the period March 31st ■ 1599 to June 30th 1899: Auckland: Butter, 14l8cwt; Cheese, 678cwt. New Plymouth: Butter, 13,223cwt; Cheese, ! 8905cwt. Wellington: Butter, 3,442cwt; Cheese, ' 5,877cwt. Other North Island ports: Butter 370cwt, Cheese 476cwt. •Total Butter : 18,451cwt; Value, £77,949. Total Cheese i 15.128cwt; Value, £31.528. Exports of butter and cheese for year ending June 30th 1900: ■ Auckland: Butter, 17,679cwt; Cheese, 2,874cwt. New Plymouth: Butter, 74,7400wt; Cheese, 22,510cwt. Wellington: Butter, 37,401cwt; Ohcese,' 20,972cwt. Other North Island ports :Butter, 3,013cwt; Cheese, 1,989cwt. Total: Butter, 133,333cwt; Value, £573,145. Total : Cheese, 48,3450wtj Value, £107,197.

I You will be called upon to eleot two directors in the placo of Measrj. William Mitchell and James Brown, who retire by rotation and are eligible for re-election; also, to appoint an auditor for the ensuing twelve months. An Association Patriotic War Fund was opened in March, but owing to the fact of most of our Members having contributed to the many local funds, only a small response was made, the value o£ tae contributions amounting to £6B 10s Id,

The balance-sheet mbmitted showed I ncome .£4lB 3a 7d, oxpeiws £330 11 : i 'd, with a balance of assets over liabili- » lies of £BS lis Bd, '' _ The Chairman, in moving the adop I; fcion of the report and balance-sheet, i said it afforded him very great pU&sun i bo move the adoption of such a satis- '-i factory balance-shush This could no' « have been said twelve months back at o the meeting at Ilawera, when there «' were only 18 members. However, by * the energy of .the secretary, backed up h by the committee, the roll now con- v tained 45 members, and this numbor h had since been increased to 50. It was very satisfactory to h»ve j£Bs to their c credit, At the same time the volume of business transaoted at Wellington t was not shown, and that amounted to between .£SOOO and .£6OOO a year. He explained why the executive had chosen Stratford as the place of meeting thic year, and was glad to see so many present. He would call for a recommendation to that body as to where the meeting should be hold next year, as he believed in the policy of holding the annual meetings at different convenient centres. It was very satisfactory, said Mr. Harkness, to know that their produce was not only holding its own on the London market, but was so well spoken of, bringing fair prices and competing favourably with the produce of the Continent. He believed that the time of Federation was near, and that its adoption would be mutually advantageous. There was no reason to hope that in the future prices would reach 120s or 150s, but he be-

lieved the, time.bad arrived when their produoe would average 98s or 100s, and that would give the factories a fair and remunerative price. The present contract with the shipping companies was l not altogether satisfactory. It was understood that, with a view to secure regular shipments, vessels would leave Wellington at intervals of 14 days, and reach home 14 days after one another, and that the agents there could relv on this. It was quite as important, if not more so, that vessels should arrive regularly as that they should be despatched regularly. The Kumara took 43 days going Home, and the Rakaia 56—a difference of 13 days, or almost the same time as the interval stipulated for between each shipment This ought not to be, as it was of great importance to maintain an equal distance of time between the arrival of each shipment. When the Governmenthad commandeered the vessels he (Mr. Harkness) had instructed the Secretary tomake'ademandforcompensation, and though it was a question whether any result would be obtained; he thought it his duty, in the interests of the Association, to have the demand sent in. Theie was another matter of considerable importance mentioned in the report, relating to a central depot for chetw. The Association was in favour of tlw suggestion made by Mr. J. T. Lanp that all cheese made in the Nortl Island should be sent from thcfnc torie to "Wellington and placed ir a cold stores, instead of being s'n' to Moturoa and then put into tin hold of the coastal vessels along will butter and sent forward for direct ship ment. The Association was doing poor work, a large amount of indenting being carried out for the members This had not been done without npposi tion from some of them, but ho bel< that it was the duty of 1 lie Association ' as far ns possible, to do their own in denting. This had been a nasty medi , cine for some of the members t< i swallow, but he would stand or fall bj 1 his action in the matter, as he hat ; taken that stand on joining the" Asso 1 ciation and would adhf re to it. Thej had succeeded in getting salt at a mucl lower price than quoted, and he hopec the policy would be supported. Wit! regard to fire insurance, why not, said i Mr. Harkness, have all the factortei 1 insured through the Association 1 ' Already something had been done ii this direction, but there was room foi : great extension of the Association') business. He hoped that at their nexl meeting at least 60 members would b< ' present. He * admitted that th< Association had met with mucl ! opposition, and he could point U numbers of factories pledged to join th< Association, but having been told thai it could do no good for them they hac ' been deterred from joining. Had thej been only true to the principles of oo peration, they would have found thaJ ; their bast interests would be served bi membership. An instance of the goo< effected was shown by the Associatioi bringing down the price of buttei boxes to 9£d, by which at his owi factory (Midhirst) a saving of £lsOl . year had resulted. Unfortunately there were many farmers who were to dunderheaded and dense to realise th< benefits, and could not understand tha I by putting their hands in their pocket for a £5 note and become members o the Association they would reoeiv very good value for their money. H : then formally moved the adoption o i the report, which was seconded by Mr ' Foreman. ' Several questions were asked oi ! various items of the balance-sheet am , replied to. ' 1 STORAGE OF ALL CHEESB AX WEL- | LINOTOH. i A letter was read from Mr. Kiosella stating, with reference to having all tin 1 Taranaki cheese sent to Wellington that it was almost impossible, as then was not sufficient storage room. The Chairman stated that Mr. Kin sella was not correct, as there wai ample storage room available. Mr. Lang said that after an ex perience of two years he had come Ik the conclusion that it would be mucl better if all the cheese were sent t< Wellington. There were many pointf in favour of this course and nont against it. One point against thj present system was shipping cheese in < the same hold as butter. He had tried to get the Union Company to avoid this, but without avail. On arrival a< Wellington it was always found thai when butter came to hand which had been in contact with cheese the temperature of the butter was invariably high, and this was owing tc the butler being put in the hold first and the cheese on top. Sometimes when the hatches were taken off a high flavour of cheese was perceptible, and when that happened there was a hue | and cry and great trouble was experienced in getting the buttertranshipped, It would be much better to get the butter and cheese taken, separately.

■wl rtucerl,lined that they bringing down the cheese by it •auso when the shipments of large it took them all their time ip and get away from ui<l then there was. ™^ tJI tranship, as two or three were required. He had seen ft" o convenience from not haying stored at Wellington; for Kumara had built up a head, but simply because was lying at New Plymouth head was rendered usoless. xrints, he thought, were wortfw consideration. _>„^H The report and batanw-*beet then adopted. <->'J^| ELEOIIOH OF OFFICBItfc "£)^H There were three nomination* for vacancies caused on the directorate the retirement of Messrs. (Feilding) aQ d Brown (Oartsrtort ;■ Both these gentUmen ware r *"*' Mr. J. Ytung (ftdme««ton)— by Mr. Gmy and seconded by Mr. Man—securing only 11 votes to Mn Brown's 12. Mr. F. Shaw mi *** H appointed auditor. * (To be continued,)' H In the evening the Emeatrw of &4H Association were entertained by j Chamber of Commeroe at the *OMf H Hotel. Mr. T. O. Fookw fialHß ' There was also present a large gather* H " ing of members of the Chamber Ml fl i others, inoluding many of those pwHttt W at the meeting. A somewlut leqgthyVH ' though particularly appropriata,toMvH , list was got through with jptat cr*Ut H , to the various speaker*, aodthelsbMf S vals were filled up in capital *JMk fl ' Altogether a most enjoyable llpyfl evening was spent, and made a flfiii|fl close to an arduous but 0 day's work. Strangely ? ford is the first town in whlAljpß Association has held its meetinflMßftM '' has extended such welcome h«|lHß|fl " to the Executive, and the ariJOßJfjfifM Chamber of Commerce in ti>UMiSP|<H e was highly appreciated by to'gMJpfl !* of the evening. f „■