MAKETAWA DAIRY COMPANY.

Taranaki Daily News, 13 August 1915, Page 7

MAKETAWA DAIRY COMPANY.

THE ANNUAL, MEETING. The a,niuial meeting of the shareholders of the Mii.ketn.wa Dairy Company was held at the factory yesterday, Mr. J. JHrown (chairman of directors) presiding over a good attendance. In moving the adoption of the report and balance-sheet, the chairman said lie did so with a great deal of pleasure, as far as the aspect of the nuances was concerned. Ho regretted that the war was still on. There was no doubt the year had been a good one. Noticing in the papers the high prices of butter and cheese, the shareholders no doubt expected a lot, but it bad to be remembered the cost of putting the produce on the market bad been very bigh. The returns had been the higiest on record. As far as the future was concerned, it waa difficult to see what would happen, but the prospects for the butter market were good, while the coat of export would bo still bigher, as the shipping companies had increased the freight, and there might bo extra insurance. The company was getting back to its old standard in the amount of produce it wan turning out, in spite of some of the suppliers having left. The test wan still on the increase, and had been gradually going up every year. Some thought the test would suffer from the . high over-run, but it was evident that to get a high over-run the manager was not taking it out of the test." The balance-sheet would show that there had been an increase in the depreciation this year, for the directors thought that, having had a good year, it would be advis\fble to increase the depreciation. ■ Tip to the end of June the company hail donated £llß to the Patriotic Fund, and, apart from that, there had been ) a call on everyone personally. "And we have, gentlemen, got to continue to 1 do this, for some time at any rate," added Mr. Brown. The cost of running '■ (he creamery compared favorably ) with that of other creameries. In regard to the Freezing Works, it was 1 more difficult to get cheese exported than butter. There was no doubt that i the past year had been a very difficult one in regard to shipping, but'no blame . could be placed on anyone—it was aft ; due lo the war. He' was pleased to : hear the Prime Minister sav that there i wart no trouble to fear up to Novemi her. The cheese people had not been so fortunate as the butter people, anil ; ti:e last lot of Inst season's cheese was not out of New Zealand yet. While ■ he said the prospects for'next season • were good, ho emphasised the difficulty of the shipping problem, and no one could say bow this might affect the season. Speaking of the butter produced, the chairman said last season's butter ps of a high grade, and no second grade had been manufactured. The cows had not been feeding on turnips to the extent they were the year before, and, in addition to this,'the suppliers were taking every care with their milk. This was necessary to enable the manager to turn out a'firstclass article. In condition, the chairman thanked his fellow-directors, the sccretarv and the staff for the assistance tlioy had given him. Mr. Misehcfsti seconded the motion for the adoption of the report. In reply to a shareholder, the chairman said the additions to the Moturoa Freezing Works would provide space for about twelve hundred crates of cheese. There was no discussion, and the "report and balance-sheet were adopted. DIRECTORS. Messrs. R. Kilpatrick and W. Corncy were the only nominations for the two vacancies on the directorate, and they were, duly elected. Mr. E. Olson was re-elected auditor. GENERAL. Mr. Simpson gave notice to move, at the next annual meeting, that Ave directors should be elected, instead of seven. There was a good deal of discussion on a complaint that samples of milk went sour when they were in the bottles and it was decided to ask the Government to send an expert to inquire into the matter. It was decided to pay the directors lUs a day for every meeting they attended. '• The chairman's honorarium was n"ain fixed ij.t £.15 15s. ° Votes of thanks were passed to the directors to the managers of the factory and the creamery, and to the secretary.