Stratford News

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 56, 24 July 1912, Page 3

Stratford News

l<Tom nur Resident Reporter. MIDHIRST DAIRY COMPANY,

ANNUAL MEETING-. The annual mooting of (he Midhirst Co-operative Dairy Company was held on Monday afternoon. There was a very large attendance, and Mr. A. Brown, chairman of directors, presided. In moving the adoption of the report and balance-sheet (details of which have already been published), the chairman said that there were just a few matters upon 'which he wished to touch. The first was that of the increase they had made in output during the year. It amounted to 70 tons. That, as they knew, was considered a very fair output for a small-sized factory. It was certainly an increase on which they could congratulate themselves. It showed that they were moving ahead and making progress generally. If they had had a normal season tliev could have increased that output very considerably. Touching upon the question of the disposal of their butter, the speaker said that a number of those present had thought that for )': ■ p-> \ear the directors had no! ; Hi;;,'

could have done. Tlr■; •< natter o f opinion. People were yoing about saying that the directors were little. better than simpletons. In this connection he would like to point- out that the directors of the company were all farmers, practically untrained men, and they were up against some of the smartest men who could be brought out from the Old Country. They paid the directors 7s Gd for attendance at a meeting, and j these men got a thousand a' year for their services. They must remember that these men came out here, and all the time they were here they were in constant touch day by day, hour by hour, with-the markets of the world. "They know how things are; we do not." Mr. Brown continued that he was not oflerl ing this in the nature of an excuse-; it was an explanation. He made no apologies for what the directors had done. They had done the best they could, and he now directed their attention to what had happened the previous year. There was an offer made of between 11 l-10d and 11%(I for factory outputs, and the little factories snapped it up.' Thejkig factories waited, but they never, got another chance to sell at that price. This ■ had influenced him considerably this year. As soon as lid was reached, and 1 this was a very fair price, he felt disposed to place something. The butter was placed cautiously. They added to, that twice. Then the last lot was disposed of. and; this was placed -better. For some years Midhirst headed the whole Dominion for the price they paid out. With one exception, they had been beaten for their "pay out." Referring to the casein question, the chairman-said that nothing could lie don<> this season. There was no time to erect buildings or plant, and by the time the Government officer (who had been sent to England to make enquiries) returned and -made his report, they would be in a better position to move in the matter. ' Speaking of wftejffed calves and pigs, the chairman said that a director and himself liad .travelled to Wanganui. They were not very fortunate in the date selected 'for the- visit, but they calves .they saw . that were whey-fed, were very -wjell reared indeed, and the settlers .were all unanimous that the whey gave every satisfaction! With pigs, these people were not so well satis.-' lied. He did not think pigs could be very well reared on whey, >witho.ut something added. Coming to the question of testing, he Was sorry to say that he thought the Midhirst people were, drifting behind their neighbors. They Uiust admit that they were-,milkingi hundreds of cows that were not Worth the grasi they ate, or the labor that /was expended in milking them. So far as was concerned, he coutd congratulate the Mjdhirst settlers on what they, had,done \ during the last year. Two hundred and fifteen tons had teen distributed among the farmers, and'this sas a long way in | advance of anything they had done before. While he said they were' on the right track, he would say therp was still a lot more to be done, ll£ had taken the txaubl'cT'to work pui.what..tfiis meant per acre. Assuming they were farming 30,000 acres, it Amounted to 161b of manure per acre. , fc •* The. question. v Was a?ked by ji silageholder as wjjy, the/fact6ri'es ; .'<iid;,,n() ! t ,, endeavor 1 and open 'out?'' for 'themselves \yitfi "aT warehouse in. London,,. !. The chairman Explained "'thax ject of the National Dairy Associa,tipn was to establish 'such a warehouse. In the early days it was hoped to accomplish this, but they were still a long way from that goal. There were difficulties in the way which they lay .mftn could not understand. Any 'enterprise like this met with great-opposition, and 'they would have great difficulties in establish: ing themselves oil thi Ldhdon market. A shareholder brought up the 'question of the increase in expenses." .Last,, year the expenses had been .88, tills Viar they were .90. ■

'The chairman explained that the increased cost of firewood, the rise in wagcs.> repairs and renewals, were responsible for this increase. The matter of fuel was one which would' trouble them considerably; the waod Ivas getting, worse in fyualitiY and dearer in price. l 'The iotiring directors' weVeXMtesrs. A: A! Ward, E Koighlltfy 'and-'G. <?. KSiofc Of these, "Mr.i'Keightley offered himself for re-election, anid the following "otheif gentlemen. wfere ndminated: Messrs: Angus Wright, Peter ' ,T. Petersen. -Walter Vickers, Olakolm M. 'Knox "aiiJ' fieriry A.' Pt'mbarll. i. ' -

The following gcaflemen-is&rc alecte'ds JfrssiY. Peter J. PoterseA, Angus Wright and Frank Kcightley.'• - ''EMr. T. JL Eitfin was re-elected -jJuditor for 11m ensuing rear. • ' ■

"The matteijjof caflmc-- • up for disewssion. arid Mr. "Fulton, theStratford inctructbr'of the Department of Agriculture, addressed, the ihpcting at siVnii? length, and qnotaltfarta ami figures in support pf the "work of co\\~testi4lg. JfK Fiilton-lir.-'t expressed' his'! pldasure at seeing the- cTwirmain of 'directors (Mr. Alcv.wdin Pißiwni) In restored heaJtli, and wished him a speedy and complete recovery. He also waned the sliwreliolders of the dangers of internal dissension, and urged them; to work together, and put their faith in their directors. Referring to the cow-testing, it was evident that sipce the last general . meeting,, held at Midhirak some three months ago, this matter had been engaging the serious consideration of the settlers, for considerable enthusiasm was manifest at the meeting, and it was fairly evident that a great number of eows will be entered for systematic testing j this season. It was decided that the names of farmers be handed in to the company's secretary, if they wished to have the boxes, sample bottles, etc., ordered in good time for 'the coming season. Mr. Fulton pointed out that, cowI testing forms would be supplied free by I the Department of Agriculture, and the dairy instructors would give the necesi eary instruction and assistance to those i companies starting the work.

At the conclusion of the address Mr. Fulton was accorded a very hearty vote of thanks. A vote of thanks was also

accorded the returning officer (Mr. S. M. Porritt). STRAY PARAGRAPHS. It was reported at the Eltham railway station on Saturday by a Miss Stewart, of Stratford, that gins had left her handbag ami purse, the latter containing £lO in gold, in the 10,30 down train. Hawera and Patea were at once communicated with, but up to the time of going to press yesterday, says Monday's Argus, no tnu'c of the missing articles had been discovered.