DAIRY FACTORY COMPANIES.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 218, 8 September 1908, Page 4

DAIRY FACTORY COMPANIES.

11AWKRA CO-OI'EIU'iTVE COMPANY. At the annual meeting of the llawcra Co-operative Dairy Company the directors stated that for the first time in the hisory of the company there was a fall-ing-oil' in Ihe milk supply due, no doubt, to the rough spring and dry summer. Interest paid to shareholders amounted to £219, an increase of CM. There was also ail increase iu bank interest, £140; insurance, £sl; gravel, £O2; law expenses, £1)5; fuel, £120; and wages, £llso—whilst freezing cost £21)0 less."

in the balance-sheet the profit and loss account showed among the receiptsButter £9518 17s sd, cheese £27,887 is lOd. The expenses included £30,025 0s 4d milk purchased, wages £2527 13s 2d. During the year 17,719,(!15ib of milk was received, which contained 071,388.83 lb of butter-fat, the average test being 3.79. There was 4,822,4701b of milk used for butter-making, out of which was produced 182,083.101b of butler-fat. The number of pounds of butter made 21)0,292, the overrun being 12.9 per cent. There was used for cheese-making 12,897,1391b of milk, which contained 488,705.071b of butter-fat. There was a decrease ill milk from previous season of 1,472.2571b and 00,591.171b of butlerfat.

MKKK MKIiH CO-OI'KIiATI VE COM ['A XV. The annual report of the Mere Mere .Co-operative Dairy Company state's that "the quantity of milk received was 7,222,5841b, being a decrease of 1,081,500 lb, caused principally, if not altogether, bv the drought. The average test was 3J34 per cent., or slightly lower than it was the previous season, and it took •23.521b of milk to make one pound of butter. Last season's output was sold at what the directors considered a liighly satisfactory price, but owing to the drought in New Zealand and Australia the prices of butter maintained such a high level on the London market that those who consigned made better prices than those who sold. There is a balance of £2l« 10s 3d to the credit of profit and loss account, which the directors recommend should be written oil' properly anil plant account. Owing to the de- . creased output, the extra cost of labor, and the increased cost of many of the factory requisites, the cost of mauufac- , ture has increased by £2 8s per ton. The butter sent through the grading works at Patea has graded well during the past season, and has given satisfaction to the London buyers." In the balance-sheet the profit and loss account showed on the receipt side: liutter sold £13,150 Is 7d (export £12,791 lis 4d, and locally £358 10s 3d); balance from 31st July, 1907, £704 15s lid; profit West Coast Refrigerating Company, £lO 15s lUd). Among the items of expenditure were: Milk purchased £10,070 Os 2d, wages £OO3 ss, goods account £ti2o 3s 7d. NORMANJ3Y COMPANY. The annual meeting was held yesterday. The report stated, inter alia—"The season has been unparalleled—not only in weather, but also with regard to lirices of dairy produce, the extreme high prices having choked oil* consumption and thereby let in substitutes which are likely to re-act on the. future prices of pure butter. In compliance with Ihe expressed wish of the suppliers a creamery is being erected on llirstlanils Estate. The desired alterations and additions at the factory are now iu hand. Your directors have, in the best interests of the company, decided to ship the coming season's output on consignment through the National Dairy Association—another link in the chain of co-operation amongst, producers." The following statistics were also mililnittcd: Pounds of milk received, (i,532,(138; pounds of butler-fat. 210,572: pounds of liutter made, 280,330: overrun. 13.08; pounds of milk to lit) but--11• r, 23,302; average test, 3.77; cost of manufacture, .011.

In the balance-sheet the. principal item in the receipts was butter. e1'2,'2110 lis 11,1. The working expenses totalled ■,€1203 3s lOd.