THE DAIRY INDUSTRY.

Taranaki Daily News, 17 August 1920, Page 8

THE DAIRY INDUSTRY.

LEPPERTON COMPANY'S YEAR,

C.W.S. SCHEME OPPOSED. The annual meeting of the Lepperlon Co-op. Dairy Co. was held in the Lepperton Hall last evening, about 30 shareholders being present. The report and balance-sheet, which have been published, were adopted. CHAIRMAN'S ADDRESS. The chairman (Mr. H. B. Lepper) congratulated shareholders on a successful season. The season showed a considerable improvement over last year, and this was demonstrated by the figures in the report. The position was very satisfactory from botli the suppliers' and manager's point of view. He was pleased to recognise that the good results were largely due to the manager's efforts. During the year a tiled drain had been made to carry the whey to the whey iank cost of £75. Wages were higher, mainly because of the extra quantity of milk handled, and the extra labor entailed. The use of exhaust steam had reduced the coal bill. Whey butter had last year paid working expenses, but this year more butter had been made, so that the output of wliey butter was reduced. Shipping, he said, had not greatly improved over last year, so far as insulated tonnage was concerned. It was evident that there would be an increase in shipping freight, and the directors had decided to sell 100 tons of their output at a. fixed price f.o.b. The position of the company was becoming stronger financially. A delegation of directors had attended a conference of farmers at Palmerstou North in connection with the C.W.S. scheme, and a number of delegates viewed the scheme, with some favor, but he personally did not think it advisable to fall ,in with the proposal. Tooley Street had served the dairying interests well during the war. practically financing the Imperial Government in the purchase of the commandeered produce. The C.W.S. had "kept dark" the fact that they had a blending factory where many makes of butter were' compounded,*and lie viewed this factory with some suspicion. He a.-iked if anyone was quite clear as to the intentions of the C \V,S. The producers were not at all familiar with the proposed procedure, especially in the matter of finance, and before the company committed themselves in any way, he wished to have the position much more clearly defined. Was anyone in favor of having New Zealand butter blended with other makes? H:' thought not. Several opinions of well advised writers, taken from the New Zealand Dairyman, were read by the chairman, all condemning the scheme in no uncertain terms, and he said the directors as a whole, were not at all in favor of the scheme.

Mr. Lepper said tliat the shortage and high price of coal absolutely precluded the idea of developing the by-products, wliicli was to be regretted. The banks were becoming- hard, chiefly, fye thought, because of the high price being paid for land and the consequent risk entailed. Tn conclusion, the chairman urged suppliers to try to increase their supplies of milk, stressing the necessity of manuring the land to obtain the best results. He hoped that present and intending suppliers would, support their own company rather,than give their patronage to outside concerns. A supplier asked why the Lepperton company was always so much behind other companies- in their pay-out. He compared the pay-out with several other factories which also had to pay the expenses of new 7 factories as well as Lepperton. It was pointed out that the output of cheese per lb. of butter-fat was lower than that of the other fatcories mentioned, and this to a large extent accounted for the deficiency.

ELECTION OF OFFICERS. To replace two retiring directors, and Mr. llellier, who resigned during the year, the following were nominated: Messrs.- Wm. McAssey, J. Cloke, D. B. McKee, and F. Copestake. The voting resulted: McAssey Rfl, Cloke (i.j. McKee 51, Copestake 46. Messrs. McAssey, Cloke and McKee were declared elected. Mr. G. Pnllen was re-elected auditor for the ensuing year at a fee of £7 7s. GENERAL. A donation of £lO 10s was voted to the London Hospital, in response to an urgent request from that institution. The honorarium of the chairman was increased to £25. It was decided to increase the directors' fees to 10s per monthly meeting. For every day the directors have to attend extraordinary meetings, they will receive £1 Is. A hearty vote of thanks was accorded to tho manager and staff of the factorv.