MERE MERE DAIRY CO.

Taranaki Daily News, 10 August 1921, Page 2

MERE MERE DAIRY CO.

ANNUAL MEETING. The twenty-sixth annual general meeting of tho Mere Mere Co-operative Dairy Factory Co., Ltd., was held in the Tawhiti Hall on Saturday. Mr. J. J. Walker (chairman of directors) presided over an attendance of about 20 shareholders. , ANNUAL REPORT. The report stated that when the Government price for butter was announced (2s 6d per lb f.0.b.) they were fortunate in being able to convert to butter about the middle of January, at a cost of £llOO. Owing to delays in shipping cheese, they had not yet had many returns, but cheese unsold had been valued at a safe figure. Poko Moko.—lt was decided to close the Poko Moko branch at the end of the season, and an arrangement was made with the Poko Moko suppliers to sell their shares to the company. This business had been .satisfactorily concluded.

Statistics for season.—Pounds of milk received, 8,581,760; pounds of butter fat, 319,070; test, 3.71. Cheese statistics: Pounds of milk, 5,848,557; pounds of butter fat, 209,568 ; pounds of cheese (256 tons lewt. Oqrs. 13Ibs), 573,565; pounds of milk to lib butter 10.19; pounds of cheese from lib butter fat, 2.73; average test, 3.58; cost of manufacture, 1.73 d; cost of manufacture (including depreciation), 2.10 d; cost per lb f.cxb., 2.44 d; wtey butter made (4tons lewt. 2qr. 241 b), 9,1521 b. Butter statistics; Pounds of milk, 2,733,203; pounds of butter fat, 109,502; average test, 4.00 per cent., butter made (56 tons 4 cwt. 2qr.), 125,9441 b; overrun, Hj.Ol per cent.; cost of manufacture, 2.55 d; cost of manufacture (including depreciation), 3.29 d; cost per lb f.0.b., 3.58 d.

The chairman said the question or the disposal of their output had been most difficult, and had caused the directors much thought. They had not chosen to gamble with their produce, and had consigned through Messrs. R. and W. Davidson and Son. The market had been subjected to violent fluctuations, and, as far as he could see, everything pointed to next season's market being of the same nature. During a certain period of the year they had been troubled with strong tasting milk, as the result of feeding cows on turnips. This question of suitable feed was becoming quite a problem, and he thought that the Government should take the matter up with ft view to improving the quality of their dairy produce. Continuing the chairman said that the company’s legal expenses were extremely light. Calculating on a low and safe basis, he reckoned that the pay-out would amount to 2s l%d.

The retiring directors were Messrs. J. J. Walker and J. Tomlinson, and as there were three vacancies both were re-elected.

A motion moved by Mr. Espin, that new articles of association be drawn up, led to a lengthy discussion, and Mr. McCarthy, of the company’s firm of solicitors, was brought in to decide if Mr. Lander was eligible for election to the directorate. Mr. McCarthy said he understood that Mr. Lander had been nominated and was not a supplier to the factory, although he would be one in a short time. At the present time lie was not eligible, although as soon as he became a supplier he would be. On his advice it was decided to leave the filling of the other vacancy to the directors to decide when Mr. Lander became a supplier. A supplier who had been a shareholder in the Kaupokonul Dairy Co. stated that he would like to see a herd testing association, formed. He was sure that it would pay for itself within 12 months.

The chairman said the directors were only waiting for the supplier to move in this direction, and he mentioned that a resolution to l form such an association was on the books at the present timd. If they wanted to produce an article of high quality they must consider such a proposal. They were: in a position to make an ideal little company, able to manufacture the best produce and obtain the best price. Herd testing, if carried out honestly, would have, to come into its own. He readily admitted that practically all the second-grade produce that left the Dominion was not graded as such through the fault of the factory managers. Mr. Wilson, the Government representative present, said that all the suppliers had to do was to club together and give a rough guarantee of the number of cows.

Mr. O’Shea intimated that he was in favor of a herd testing association provided it was carried out honestly.—Star.