LEPPERTON DAIRY CO.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVI, Issue 79, 22 August 1914, Page 8

LEPPERTON DAIRY CO.

ANNUAL MEETING. The twenty-second annual meeting of shareholders in the Lepperton Co-opera-ti\s Dairy Factory Co., Ltd., was held at the Lepperton Hall last night, the chairman of directors (Mr. H. B. Lepper) presiding over a large atendance. The report showed that out of the surplus of <SfIOG l'ls Id it was proposed to pay £7l .17s 9(1, being interest at o per cent, on the sliare capital subscribed to June 30, 10:13; to pay suppliers %d per lb of butter-fat for the season, absorbing £5lO lis 6d; and to carry the balance forward. The butter made list season amounted to 85 tons 15c,wt. 3qrs lib. The vacancy on the directorate ] during the year - caused by Mr. Open- ■ shaw's seat lapsing, was filled by the 1 appointment of Mr. A. B. Leech. I The amount of milk received, wqs I 3.030521b5, butter-fat 1t32,0601b5, cream j 87851b5, butter-fat 4SMlbs. The aver- i age test was 4.1 ! 1, over-run 15.5, advances lil.Sld, bonus .75d, interest .10d, total T2.lfid. The balance-sheet showed receipts at £923S 14s 4d, and expenditure £8720 17s lid. including depreciation £76 10s 10d. Assets were stated as £2838 5s Sd, and liabilities (including the balance of £696 lis Id), at the same figure; The report and 'balance-sheet were taken as read. In formally moving the adoption of the report, the chairman said that be again had the pleasure of congratulating the shareholders on a better year than previously. The amount of butter exported was 2758 boxes, and for local consumption 34,5821b5. There had been manufactured 12 tons more butter last year than in the previous year, the average price being ll'/jd. For the ensuing season the directors had not received any offer other than for open consignment, and they w»re awaiting anxiously j the course'of events. Last year a Sinus > weighing-machine had been installed, and, a Tangye engine had been purchased ' so as to provide against a break-down of, the •water-wheel. He had attended meetings at Hawera and Inglewood, when the question of marketing butter was J discussed. The outlook recently- was very black, but had how improved. The question of having a dual plant (butter and cheese) had been considered, 'but ; things were at present he had thought it advisable not to proceed with the proposal. He paid a high tribute of praise to the manager ('Mr W. Roberts) for his zealous and successful work. . A similar tribute was paid to the secretary (Mr. Percival). A word of praise was also given to the cartel- (Mr. Clark). In eonelusion, he thanked the staff and his endirectors for the support and assistance given to him (luring the year. Mr. Eustace seconded the motion, which vyas carried. The retiring directors. Messrs A. Leech, .I'. F. Munro and E. Hellier were re-elected. "Mr. 'lfopson was re-elected auditor. The chairman road a resolution, passed. at a recent meeting of the South Taf'anaki Bacon Co., advocating a definite subscription by dairy factories of one-half per cent, of the net drß.fi for dairy produce per month towards the War Fund. He stated that most of the J settlers were already contributing l.> . eally to the War Fund, and a committee had been formed at Lepperton to canvass for subscriptions. It was :i question whether they would join in t'n, suggested contribution, which worked out that suppliers would have to gnv, not according to their means, but to the quantity of their milk. After some discussion the meeting favored voluntary subscriptions in pveferenee to voting awav other peopled money, and the circular was ordered to lie on the table. A recommendation was made bv the meeting to the directors to increase the manager's salary to £©)o a year. A hearty vote of thanks to the directors was. on the motion of Mr_ Atkinson, carried unanimously. Tn aknowledging the compliment. Mr. Lepper said the dire.'tors had' all tried to do their best, and would do so in the future. Mr. Hellier also returned thanks. Mr. Retorts aUo thanked the shareholders for'their assistance and good opinion of his services. He considered the success of the' factory was more to the credit of the suppliers for sending good milk than to any work of his.