FARM AND DAIRY.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume L, Issue 60, 16 September 1907, Page 4

FARM AND DAIRY.

TARANAKI DAIRYING. BUTTER AND CHEESE FACTORIES HOLDING ON. I Writing under date September 10 the Palmerston North correspondent of the New Zealand Times says:— "A partner in a well-known Paliiierston dairy firm has just returned from a trip through Taranaki, and had some interesting things to say to the Times representative to-day respecting the liresent position of the dairying industry in that province. His remarks are the mor.> interesting as it is generally conceded that Taranaki usually sets the market in this colony, as the season begins there earlier than in other localities. The result of careful enquiries satisfied him that the Taranaki bult-r factories just now have got bigger ideas regarding values than have the buyers, and that as a result very little business has been done. The majority of the factories seem to be expecting to get 10% d per pound for the season, though the biggest offer made so far has been lOVid per pound. This price has alrealy been accepted by three factories. The offers made by consignment houses present better prospects to factories than do those made by buyers, especially in view of the improving outlook in the London butter market. This latter seems to point to better returns given to factories consigning than in the last two or three years.

Cheese factories are also looking for much bigger prices than Home buyers are prepared to give, the iaea being apparently that as high prices were given last year it must necessarily follow that the same state of affairs will hold good for the present season. This, however, is not the case, as the causes which led to the high prices ruling for cheese last season do not prevail at the present time. The shortage of supplies from other sources and the effects of the Chicago meat scandals undoubtedly caused last year's high rates. This year, however, there promises to be a very considerable increase in the supplies of cheese going into Great Britain," while the scare created by the exposures at Chicago is rapidly dying out, so that the consumption of tinned meat is on the increase again. "Another fact to be born in mind is that buyers dealing in cheese last year were barely liable ' to clear themselves at the prices, and, as was also the case in regard to butter, they are not disposed to face a continuance of more or less heavy losses Although both butter and cheese factories are delaying to make arrangements for the coming season, it looks as though they must make np their minds to accept the somewhat lower prices offering, or else send their products Home on consignment." GENERAL. The Stratford Dairy Factory Company (according to the Post) will pay out to suppliers on Friday, the 20th inst., the sum of £346 13s' for the month of August, as against £lO9 lis 8d for the corresponding period of last year. The company is also turning out twentyfour boxes of butter per day, as against fourteen this time last year. As further showing the strides this factory is making it might be mentioned that the suppliers have increased from 34 to '1 during the same time.

The directors of the Kaponga Dairy Company have decided to consign the season's output.

The Waverley correspondent of the Patea Press writes: The prospects of the season for stud sheep are very favorable. Buyers from the East Coast for rams are very keen, several deals having been made at high prices in this district. I hear that one of the principal breeders has an offer of 50 guineas each for 20 hoggets, and there is a probability of the deal eventuating. The same breeder has had enquiries from Queensland for a number of ewes to be shipped to that state.

The annual report of the Tarata Dairy Company states that the amount li milk received for the year was 2,874,773 lbs, producing 111,165,48511 m of butterfat, making 127,1041bs of commercial butter; lib of butter-fat produced J.U B» of butter; and each lb of butter required 22.61 lbs of milk; the average test was 3.86. There was a balance of £202 17s due to shareholders, and it was proposed to distribute this by paying 5 p";r sent on share capital, and 9-20ths of a penny per lb on butter fat, bringing the total payments over the year to 9 2-5 d per lb of butter fat.

At the annual meeting of the Southland Farmers' Co-operative Association, held at Gore recently, Mr A. Murdoch, chairman of directors, reviewed the work of the year in moving the adoption of the report and balance-sheet. The profit and loss account showed, including a net balance carried forward from last year of £I7OB 14s Id, a credit of £4243 13s 9d, which the directors recommended should be dealt with as follows:—Written off the stationery, store, furniture and plant accounts, £150; provision for bad and doubtful debts, £300; payment of a dividend on paidup capital of s'/4 per cent, per annum, £560; bonus on purchase of shareholders' merchandise other than cornsacks, twine and manures, 2 l / 2 per cent., £540; bonus to staff, £7s—absorbing in all £l6is,is<l leaving approximately £2618 to be carried forward. One thousand four hundred and fiftyn-ine new shares were taken up during the year. Stores were erected at Autautitu, and a horse bazaar at Gore and Invercargill; store accommodation was increased, and freehold land purchased at Gore. The doposits with the society had increased to £17,766.

The Xgaire Dairy -Company's annual report records a record season both for quantity and price. Cheese sold realised an average of o.OOd on factory weight, and there was an increase in the output of over 50 per cent, on the previous season. Suppliers received to the date of balance-sheet Is o'/ 2 d per lb of butter-fat, had since received another %d, and there was still £577 4s 8d to divide, making the total equal to Is l%d per lb of butter-fat. Practically the whole output was shipped to London, only 228ewt. being sold locally. The quality of the product continued to give satisfaction. The cost of production and placing on the market was very loa', 0.58 don the factory efght. This was likely to remain the lowest, as freight had advanced %& for the current season. The heaviest item was one that does not appear on the balance-sheet, and that is the cost of dealing with over-ripe milk in the summer months. The loss on this account was equal to over a halfpenny per lb of butter-fat. The attention of suppliers was earnestly directed to this matter. Shareholder's would observe that the butter plant had [ been disposed of, the difference between its cost and the sum realised on sale be- [ mg met by a transfer from the sinking fund,and the balance of the sinking funj added to reserve. During the season the company received 9,428,84911>s of milk, containing 361,8221bs of butter-fat, and producing 361,8221bs of cheese. Th<> average test was 3.83. It took 10.1711)9 of milk to make a pound of cheese, and each pound of butter-fat gave 2.sfilbs of cheese. The working account showed that £18,844 lis lid was paid out for milk, £748 Is lid in wages, and £1387 Bs.2d in ocean frefght. The company received £24,179 Is 9d for cheese sold, and the total receipts were £24,211 19s sd, showing a credit at the end of the year of £1707 18s 7d.