MAKETAWA DAIRY CO.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 121, 9 October 1912, Page 7

MAKETAWA DAIRY CO.

ANNUAL MEETING. About fifty shareholders, including a lady, attended the eighteenth annual meeting of the Maketawa Dairy Company, which was held at the factory on Monday night. Mr. J. Brown, chairman of directors, presided, and in presenting the annual report and balance sheet (which have already been published in these columns), gave some interesting comparisons with the figures of the preceding year, as follows (last year's figures being given in parentheses) :—The quantity of butter manufactured was 111) tons (133 tons). It took an average of 21.911bs of milk (22.2) to make lib of butter; lib of but-, ter-fat manufactured 1.1481bs of butter (1.138). The average test wrts 3.070 (3.9G). The cost of management was f.o.b. per lb of fat. I.GSd (1.55 d); per lb of butter, 1.40 d (1.36 d). The increased cost of manufacture was accounted for partly by the decreased production and also by the extra cost of fuel. Of the butter manufactured 2833 boxes had been sold for the home market at ll'/id, and 740 boxes had been consigned, realising am average of 11.0'9d. The average price received for export butter was 11.32(1, for local butter 12.5 d, and for the lot 11.Gd. The butter-fat produced at the factory was .139,56()1bs and at the creamery 92,G891b5. The prospects for the coming season were, so far as he could see or learn, very good. Up to the present the directors had not disposed of the output. One shipment had already gone on consignment, and another would close next' week. After two .meetings with representatives of butter firms, the best offer was Is, and the directors decided that unless 12Vitl was forthcoming they would consign. Some little time ago 12'/ 4 d was offered. He did not know if it eould be got now, however. Prospects for the/ coming season for consignment appeared to be very bright. It might be said that 12 1 / 4 d was a big price to turn down. No doubt it was, but if 12% d could be obtained at Home, it would be much better. However, time would tell. A great many factories had [gone from., .butter to cheese, which, of I course, must be'beneficial to those who were manufacturing butter. Cheese had the advantage that it only had one competitor, viz.," Canada,! and Canada was gradually -going out of cheese. In fact, it was a well-known fact, according to good authorities, that Canada's competition was declining so much that after about five years it would cease altogether, as it would take Canada all its time to manufacture suflicient cheese for its own consumption and for markets nearer home. For butter a market had been opened at Vancouver. At present it was very limited, but was increasing every year, and no doubt in a few years it would bo very considerable. On the whole, therefore, the prospects for both butter and cheese were very good. No doubt all would see that some eheess factories were paying out Is -Id per lb. Even with'the good prices ruling butter could not hope to approach this. Still, they themselves would not. go in for cheese, so they must not be envious of those that did, but wish them good luck. There was considerable debate as to whether the 2d or 3d gain was not neutral--1 ised by the 'difference in the value of the by-products—skim milk as against whey. This was a very debatable point. Cheese people said that whey calves did as well as skim-milk ones, whereas the butter people denied this. Personally, he had no knowledge of the feeding value of whey. Another important question was that of increasing the output, not so much by milking.more cows, but by milking better ones. A number of factories had gone in for testing associations. Their own manager had offered to do any testing required, and the company had agreed to charge only for the cost of the acid, but he regretted to say that the majority had not taken advantage of this opportunity. He hoped, however, that more would do so in the future. He referred to the statement made by Mr. Dingle at the meeting of the Stratford Dairy Company re the vast increase that testing would mean in the output. Personally, lie had started this year testing on his own account, and up till then he had been a sinner in tue matter. He found that his average was only 1801b, which left great room for improvement, and unless he got better results this year, some of his cows would have to go.' He urged them all to try and improve their herds and raise the product per individual eow. It should be quite easy to raise the average to about 200lbs 'of butter-fat per cow. In concluding, he pointed out that the boiler, which had done duty since the inception of the factory, had been condemned. Seventeen years ago the boiler had cost £145, but now stood at itss on (he books, so that it owed them nothing. A new boiler would bo installed at a'' 1 cost of ,-Clofi. , He then formally moved its adoption, which was seconded hy Mr. T. Corney.

"Two or three questions were put and answered, the only one of importance referring to the over-run, which Mr. Eickard considered too low. lie pointed out that the over-run was just over 14 per cent., whereas they were allowed to put moisture in up to 10 per cent. A loss of 1 per cent, in over-run amounted to £IOO per annum. The chairman pointed out that they were working well up to the limit for moisture now. The majority of the

butter made last year was saltless. They could, of course, get a bin; over-run if the i manager reads the tests low, but the directors' instructions had always been I for the manager to give the suppliers i all there was in the milk. (Hear, hear). The report and balance-sheet was then i Mi«pted.

ELECTION OP DIRECTORS. For the three vacancies caused bv the retirement by rotation of Messrs A. F. Heal ami J. V. Hall, and the removalfrom the district of Mr. T. H. Jones, there were five candidates. Messrs R. Thomas and W. Marshall were appointed scrutineers. The polling resulted as follows:—Messrs A. F. Heal 31, ,). V. ) Hall 25, J. Richards 25, J. F. Dombroski J II) and W. West 19. The three former j were declared elected, and duly returned thanks. '

For the position of auditor, it was announced that Mr. W. Ogier did not seek re-election. Mr. R. Stevens proposed and Mr. Wheeler seconded, that Mr. M. Hopson be appointed at a remuneration of £4 4s. An amendment was proposed by Mr. J. Curd, and seconded by Mr. T. Corney, that Mr. Hopson be appointed at a remuneration of 2s fid per annum. This was carried, as was also a further resolution that if he decline, it be a recommendation to the directors to offer the position to Mr. W. Ogier at a fee of £ 5.

HOME SEPARATION. ■Mr. R. Stevens -asked if the directors ' would take action in the matter of re- \ ceiving home-separated cream, should | such be offered. I The chairman stated that it was said that home separation was coming. It had come in the North of Auckland, and a good many managers said they wished they could get out of it, It was a difficult matter to deal with, and was all J right so long as they received the cream' every day, but sometimes up north they received it only one day a week. He might inform them definitely, however, that the directors would take no action in the matter unless by direct vote of the suppliers.

ALTERATION OF ARTICLES OF 'ASSOCIATION.

The chairman moved the resolution of which notice had been given on the order paper, re amending' the articles of association so that the annual meeting shall be held in August in every year at such date and at such place ' as may from time to time be determined bv the directors, instead of on the first 'Monday in October, as at present. This was seconded by Mr F. Corney and carried unanimously. Another resolution, altering the closing of the company's financial year to dune 30th instead of August 31, was passed without discussion. A meeting will be held on October 22, at 8 p.m., to confirm the resolutions.

On the motion of Messrs J. R Simpson and F. J. Hodges, the following resolution was passed:—'"That a special meeting of suppliers be held for the purpose of considering the advisability of altering the present articles of association and also formulating new ones to suit the altered conditions evolved by time and other circumstances." This meeting will also be held on October 22 at S p.m. Mr Simpson, in moving the resolution, said that since'' 1910 they •had various proposals: to deal with, such as decreasing the number of,directors and also putting the Durham road creamery on a firm basis.

■■: i GENERAL. A resolution altering the payment of the monthly cheques to the 10th of each month was lost, suppliers preferring the present aiTangnieiu.'

It was resolved to vote the chairman an honorarium of £ls lor his services during the past year. Mr C. Mi'nchin. brought up the question of manufacturing cheese, lie understood that Ivaimata had an offer, which would enable 'theni'to pay out Is 5d per lb for butter, fat. There being no seconder, the motion lapsed. In reply to Mr Dodumski, the chairman said that it had P«''i to run the creamery throughout the winter, except durin one month, and it was not worth closing down for one month. The. Chairman in reply to questions, explained at length the satisfactory condition of the freezing works and box company on .simila.r lines to other factories. The Maketawa company's shares were fully paid up in both companies, and. from the t'ormm.thcy received £27 in cash as their share of ..profits and from the latter £l7 4s Dd'iinterost.

Mr Simpso.ii> referred' to the supplier*' picnic and as.<e,dttbe suppliers- to take more interest in Hie matter 'and not leave the ari'anr.'emnts to a, few, a proposal which the chairman henifilv indorsed.

Referring to a ,circular that had been sent round asking for support for the Patea Freezing W'orks, Mr Simpson asked suppliers to consider the assistance this gave for the.disposal of their culls; by helping to block any combine. Votes of thanks to the manager and staff, secretary, chairman, and Press terminated the meeting. • DIRECTORS' MEETING.

M ;i.meeting of directors held subsequently. Mr J. Brown was re-elected oiKiii'iiian. It was decided to advance suppliers Ud tor October butter fat, and to charge suppliers Is per lb for butter. "The Tariki Cheese Factory, which is thinking of going in for the manufacture of whey butter'; wrote asking if some arrangement could be made whereby the Makclawa Company could either buy the cream or manufacture the butter for Tariki. Considerable discussion ensued, and eventually it was resolved that the directors could not take any steps in the matter at present. The directorate and Press were the guests of Mr and Miss Johnston at snpjjer. ~ ~ .. _.,