ARARATA DAIRY COMPANY.

Taranaki Daily News, 6 August 1917, Page 2

ARARATA DAIRY COMPANY.

ANNUAL MEETING. The annual meeting of shareholders of the Ararata Dairy Company was held on Thursday. There was a good attendance, and Mr. T. A. Winks, chairman of directors, presided. The directors, in their eighth annual report, stated inter alia: On January 16th, the Government completed negotiations for the whole output of cheese at O'/o f.0.b., Wellington. Prior to that date, we had shipped seven consignments, totalling 865 crates, to Messrs Lovell and Christmas, London, and this cheese was commandeered by the Government on its arrival in London, at a price not yet decided on. Estimating it at the same price as the cheese sold to the Government in New Zealand the surpluses will allow us to pay out Is S l-3d per lb butterfat for the season, this after writing off depreciation and providing C per cent, interest on paidup Bhares. The company wishes to place on record its regret at the death of Mr. J. A. Turton, secretary of the company since its inception. Mr. P. A. Lundberg has been re-engaged as manager for the coming season. The following statistics were attached to the report :Pounds of milk received, 4,823,705; pounds of butter-fat, 185,580; cheese made (209 tons G cwt. 31bs) 488,8351b5; butter made (starter, whey and creamery) 10,0S41bs; pounds of milk to lib cheese 10.00; pounds of cheese from lib butter-fat, 2.60; average test, 3.84 per cent. ; cost per lib of cheese f.o.b. (including depreciation) I.oßd.

The chairman, in moving the adop-' tion of the' report and balance-sheet, referred to the negotiations in connection with the disposal of last year's output, which was finally purchased by the Imperial Government. If the company could obtain the same price for its produce as that secured by Canada, it Would probably be able to pay out another 2d extended over the whole season. He touched on the butter-fat levy, which he criticised as a stupid class tax which shonld be abolished, and referred to a conference held at Wellington last week with reference to the coming season's output. He feelingly referred to the death of the company's secretary, and paid a tribute to the excellent service rendered by the present secretary (Miss Beamish) and the manager (Mr. Lundbcrg) during the year. The balance sheet showed the company to be in a satisfactory position. Mr. (!. Hurrell seconded the resolution, which Was carried without discussion. The retiring directors, Messrs T. A. Winks, J. Barkla and F. Willan, were reelected unopposed. Mr. Barkla brought up the question of tlie company taking up shares in the New Zealand Farmers' Co-operative Bacon Company, and after a short discussion it was decided to ask Mr. Powdrell, a director of the company, to address the shareholders. After hearing Mr. Powdrell the share holders resolved, on a show of hands, to take up shares in the bacon company. The question of suppliers taking more whey than tliey were entitled to cropped up, and it was agreed to appoint a man to weigli out the wlioy to each individual supplier.—Star.