MIDHIRST DAIRY COMPANY.

Taranaki Daily News, 30 July 1919, Page 3

MIDHIRST DAIRY COMPANY.

DEALING WITH STORE PROFITS. At Monday's meeting Mr Hooper brought up the question of the Midhirst store, lie said the directors should see to it that any profits made should be returned to those purchasing by way of a rebate,,. His experience with the Kuupokonui store was that a good business could be made of it, but they should carry more stock. Mr Soniers agreed. He thought they should have a store that contained everything. He 'believed in any profits going to those that supported the store, and thought only suppliers to the factory should be allowed to purchase. The secretary said he was glad the question had been raised. It was all very well to say the stores should carry more goods, but it required capital to carry on. However, he was not concerned over the matter of profits. The store had another purpose in that it exercised a hold ou other similar businesses He reminded suppliers tnat at the end of July all the company's earnings were paid out in bonuses, etc., and the store had to trade on the bank for the months before the cheques came in again. They appeared to trade on unlimited credit for that period, but suppliers at the end of July had not one penny in the store. Mr J. M. Shotter (director) said he did not agree with the secretary, in fact he had crossed swords with Mr Hogg on several occasions. They were trading on floating capital—(Mr Hogg: Not at all!) —but, like others, he would like .to see the store become a much larger concern. Mr Somcrs said if the secretary was dissatisfied with tho present methods he should suggest some improvement. He was not keen on the store going in for machinery or ironware, but should keep to groceries, cteNo motion was taken on the question. | THE CASEIN QUESTION, j Mr Hancock touched on the casein question. He thought that it should bo a recommendation to the directors to commence making casein on Ist September. Cheese companies made butter until September, and then went on to cheese, and if they (cheese suppliers) could rear calves on whey so could the Midhirst suppliers. Mr Somers agreed, but would like to see the factory start on casein manufacture in August. Mr Sherson (director) was against a hard and fast rule. There were five breeders of pedigree Jerseys in the room who desired the milk for their stock. These farmers had spent thousands in improving their herds, and a drastic move like this might force them whereMr Davidson disagreed. They'should not distinguish between suppliers. They wanted a.l they could get out o£ casein and with the "skim-dick" allowed some they did not know how they stood, and perhaps lost the cost of the plant by thii waste. The chairman: Quite possible. 'Mr Bowman (manager) said he was ! prepared to start casein making as soon as he was assured of 200 gallons. He thought it desirable that a-start should 'be made as soon as possible, but not under the 200 gallons. He thought all suppliers should come in at once, and mentioned that the 3d paid for casein all through was because the proprietary concerns considered this most equitable, bearing in mind that the testing was lighter in the early part of the season, and thus struck an average as compensation for the higher test in the autumn. No motion was carried on the question, but probably the directors will sanction casein manufacture as soon as the quantity reaches 200 gallons.