OPUNAKE DAIRY COMPANY.

Taranaki Daily News, 21 August 1915, Page 3

OPUNAKE DAIRY COMPANY.

ANNUAL MEETING. Tlie sixteenth annual meeting of the Opunake Dairy Company was held in the public hall, Opunake, yesterday, when Mr. J. M. Ilictkey presided over a. fair attendance of shareholders. REPORT AND BALANCE-SHEET. The report showed that during tliej year, ended 30th. June, 1915, i),104,553l lbs of milk were received, and from this '102,233 lbs of commercial butter were manufactured, g..:ng the result of lib to 22.78 lbs milk. The average test was! 3.77 and the over-run 10.31. The average payment for butter-fat for the season was 12d, and there now remains a surplus of £2,342 Is 2d to be dealt I with, which, with the amount already! paid, represents a value for buttcr-fatl for the whole year of 13.02 d. It would be uecessaryi to elect seven directors I and an auditor, Mr. Geo. \V, Rogers again offering his services. The balance-sheet showed that butter sold amounted to £21,31)3 Ids tid, and there was an estimated balance on Home shipment amounting to £BBS. Milk advances amounted to £17,285 2s 4d, and there was still a balance on hand ol £23-12 Is 2d.

In moving the adoption of the report and balance-sheet, the cluiirmaiu said that it was very satisfactory, being the best they had ever had. This was due to the war. There was every prospect of a good season this year. They had again consigned through Wright, Stephenson and Co. He thought that the company had paid out as well as any butter factory, considering that they were so far away from the railway. Considerable discussion ensued, and at times remarks grew rather rather heated.

Referring to the Opua road property, which is untenanted at present, Mr. Middleton suggested that it would be advisable to secure a tenant, even at a nominal rental, so as to safeguard the insurance.

The Ihaia road property also evoked discussion. It was stated that the directors had made a profit out of this of £IOO, as they had received £IOO deposit for the sale of it, and the sale was not completed. Mr. G'SnlKvan argued that theji had not made that profit, as the firm that failed to complete the purchase had sold machinery to near that value, and bad, moreover, had possession for over twelve months, during which time they had received rent to the value of £ls 10s. It was, however, pointed out that though property values had advanced, lhaia road property was still valued on the books at £4OO. A lengthy discussion also ensued oyer the method of appointing creamery managers, Mr. Geo. Bayliss and other suppliers emphatically stating that all vacancies should be advertised in order to give wider scope. The chairman of directors defended the action of the directorate in appointing men to the vacancies, whom they knew. He also stated that vacancies were advertised, when they did not have a suitable man available."

In reply to a question, the secretary stated that it. now cost !)d per box to send the butter to the rail at Eltham, as against f)'/ s d previously. Mr. O'Sullivan also referred to the question of fuel at the mam factory. He considered that as wood was becoming more expensive each year, they should make the utmost use of their water-race, and be did not think that they did. Sonic other suppliers also considered that it would be advisable to renew the pinstock in concrete, instead of continually repairing in wood. The chairman considered that as much use as possible was made of the water power. More power could possibly be obtained by building a wall at n cost of '£4oo or £-500. The wood supply was the next topic of discussion. Messrs O'Sullivan and Bayliss referred to the fact, that fuel wa.s burnt as fast as received from Liucontractor. They considered that the directors should not allow the fuel supply to run so short, but should arrange that all fuel should be stacked and measured, otherwise there was no (heel; on the contractor. They were not, remarked Mr. O'Sullivan, running a. benevolent institution, but a co-operative dairy factory. After some further di-eussion the bal-ance-sheet Wi;s adopted. ' A proposal that an hour's aljuii-n nient for dinner be taken, was nol listened to. suppliers stating tint they were an:,ions to finish so as to net home to miik. THE SURPLUS'. The secretary stated that tile available balance was £224S Ills 2d, Mr. Ja.s. kusk moved that this be dealt with by paying one per cent, on share capita], absorbing £.')!) Os ;id, that 10 per cent, be paid to supplier i on 1 milk supplied, absorbing £1721 i 7s SJ, and that 1400 be written off for depre-•:-.ticn. ':<■;% vc'dl h-a-.i „ balance oi £s.'! lis 3d.

This was seconded by Mr. F. Carter and carried. FLECTIOX OF DIRECTORS. Director.--, won' thou elected as follows:—Kinn road creamery, Mr. X. .Simpson; lhaia road creamery, Mr. J. Dy Castro; main factory, .Mil (!. ]layliss (all unopposed), For the four vacancies to complete the directorate there were eleven nominations. .Mr. ,1. Carcia was appointed returning oll'icei and Messrs 11. J. Xewma.ll and M. J. Mcßeynolds scrutineers. Tile ballot resulted as follows:—J. M. llickev 145, M'. llickoy 110, S. O'Sullivan !l!l, F. Carter 02, \Y. Ward 82, ,i. A. T.usk 72, A MeQuaiK 113, K. K Middieton fni, 1... I.iiokin 52, 1!. Campbell 42. F. \V. Kowlands ]:!. The first four were declared elerted. 'there were three nominations fur the portion of auditor, and Mr. 11. J. Xewman was elected on a show of hands The fee. was fixed at £li (is.

CiKXI'JUL It was resolved to vole the manager ii bonus of HiO, aiul the secretary ;(i]ll, as an appreciation of their pait services. The chairmen was voted an horoarrhim of £2O fcr the past year, and it was decided that next year the chiiiimnn he given .-C2,j, and' tile directors 10s for each of the. twelve ordinary miotings and 5s for extra meetings. CHAIRMAN OF DIRECTORS. At a subsequent meeting of directors, Mr, 3. M. Hiclcey was re-appointed chairman of directors ,