WEST COAST REFRIGERATING COMPANY.

Taranaki Daily News, 26 August 1920, Page 2

WEST COAST REFRIGERATING COMPANY.

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING, The annual goneral meeting of the above company was held at the Borough Council Chambers, Patea, on Monday, Mr. A. C. Pease (chairman of directors) presiding. The annual report stated. Inter alia, that as the question of the dairy companies reverting to butter manufacturing is being considered, the directors have deemed it advisable to make preparation for any such contingency by the installation of extra freezing power at Patea, and the piping of extra chambers for direct expansion refrigeration.- The necessary machinery and most of the required piping was already at hand at Hawera, and is being removed to Patea and re-erected. The company will then be in the fortunate position of possessing ample freezing power and accommodation for butter and cheese. The conditions under the 1920-21 season will be altogether different from those under which the industry had been operating during the past five years, and it was difficult to say what proportion of the new season's cheese would be shipped before the end of the present year. The following are the amounts of produce handled during the year compared with the previous year (figures for 1918-19 appearing in parentheses): Cheese: In store at commencement of season, 99,651 cases (74,154); received, 196,716 (75,375); total, 296,367 (249,529); shipped, 228,263 (149,878); lm store at end of season, 68,104 (99,651). Butter: In store at commencement of season, 3556 boxes (7593); received, 12,324 ,(9065); total, 15,860 (16,658); shipped, 14,587 '(13,122); in store at end of season; 1273 (3536). Comparison of tons this season with last: Gross tons handled. 1919r2Q, 24,175; gross tons handled, 1918-19, 20,625—t0ns Increase, 3550.. The chairman, in moving the adoption of the report and balance sheet, aald it was gratifying to know that the accumulation of last season's cheese was being got away so well that it was estimated that by the middle of September there would only be about 14,000 crates of old cheese on hand in the works, which was very satisfactory iudeed compared to previous seasons during the war period. The chainman then asked the secretary to read a further report dealing with the company's business, as follows: On reference to the chairman's report attached to the balance-sheet, it will be seen that last yearWs a Tecord year for the quantity of dairy produce produced in South Taranaki. THsre was an increase of 21,341 crates of cheese and 1465 boxes of butter over any previous year, whilst the quantify actually shipped Is also a record, reaching a total of 228,263 crates of cheese and 14,587 '■ boxes of butter, a gross tonnage handled of } 21,261 tons. The cheese remainthg in store at June 30, 1920, was 31,557 crates less than was the case at .Tune 30, 1919. As there was | considerable doubt during the past months I whether butter would not replace cheese, it was decided to make preparation for extra storage for butter by fitting direct expansion piping to several extra chambers, and to remove the new 30 ton 'Lulde refrigerator and National gas engine from Hawera. to Patea, which work is now being carried out. To make room for the additional plant, the present offices had to be removed, and in consequence, new offices are being built on a site close to Uie railway station. To secure labor It was found necessary to secure houses for some of the company's employees, and when the ;two houses now being built are completed the company will own Ave houses In Patea. The cost of running the business has increased very considerably. Fuel Is now 100 per cent, increase on pre-war prices, and this applies to all other material and. requisites required. During the past four or five years the long storage has, of course, been the salvation of the position, but should conditions revert to. pre-war methods It may be necessary to re-' view the charges. v Some idea of the expenditure rendered necessary owing to congestion and want of shipping during the war can be gnthercd from the following particulars of expenditure for .each year on extensions of buildings and additional plant: Tear. Buildings. Plant. Total*

£ s d £ s' d. . £ s d. 1918 5786 15 11 230 8 9 0107 4 8 1917 3561 3 1 215(1 15 1 5720 18 2 1918 19,314 10 3 0150 17' 7 25,475 IS-10 1919 18,401 13 11 6283 II 7 24,325 4" 6 1920 3920 0 0 700 0 0 4620 0 0

Grand total £66,159 1„,2 As some of the above expenditure was on temporary buildings, such as Ihe insulating of the Winter Show Buildings, liberal depreciation has been allowed for during the above periods, It, was decided that a dividend of 5 per cent, on the paid-up capital be paid, and a further 5 per cent, as a bonus, bringing the total, .payment to 10 per cent. ' As no other nominations for directors had been received, the chairman declared ihe retiring directors, Messrs. T. Walsh and ,T. S. McKay, to-elected.

Mr. Tonka proposed, and Mr. Thomlinson seconded, the following resolution: "That this meeting of South Taranaki dairy producers request the Government to make provision for the shipment of the next season's cheese and butter at the earliest opportunity, and provided'that all the last season's cheese be not shipped before the new season's is ready for shipment, that a proportion of the new season's cheese be shipped with the old by each carrying steamer."—Carried.