BUTTER AND CHEESE.

Taranaki Daily News, 27 August 1921, Page 7

BUTTER AND CHEESE.

EXPORTS FROM TARANAKI. f OPERATIONS AT MOTUROA. COMPANY’S ANNUAL MEETING. The twentieth annual meeting of the Taranaki Producers’ Freezing Works Company was held yesterday, when Mr. A. Morton (chairman of directors) presided over a good attendance of delegates from dairy factories interested. In moving the adoption of the annual report and balance-sheet (already published), the chairman said that the most noticeable feature in the report was the large increase in the butter handled, which was far larger than the decrease in the amount of cheese dealt with. This was partly due to the fact that as the price paid by the Imperial Government for the butter was likely to return to producers more than that paid by cheese, a great many of the factories changed from cheese to butter. This accounted for a part of the increase, which was also swelled by the fact that since the fire at the Patea works the whole of the butter from there had been sent to Moturoa. The increase in the production of butter was fair, but it would have been much greater had the season not been so unfavorable from a climatic point of view.

CONGESTION AT THE STORES. At the beginning of the year, he said, it was believed that there would not be any great congestion, and that the stores would be cleared almost as the produce came in. Unforeseen circumstances, however, caused congestion, so much so that at one time the works were almost full, causing considerable trouble in handling. Mr. Morton touched on the difficulty that had been entailed in handling produce that was called for for shipment to west coast of England ports. The practice had been in the past that all produce for ports other than London had to be specially branded with the name of the port to which it was shipped. It was then kept separate, and no difficulty was entailed in its shipment; but when the works were practically filled, and a call was made for cheese for the west coast ports—and that cheese was not specially branded- was practically impossible to handle it. Produce for the west coast should be branded Avonmouth, Liverpool or Glasgow when sent to the grading store. The store, if advised, could brand the produce as it arrived, but the difficulty was that the advice sometimes arrived two or three days after (he (Consignment. Referring to the question of liability for loss in the case of deterioration of cheese sent for transhipment and held up at Wellington owing to strikes, he pointed out that the Producers’ Freezing Company was not liable. There might be some grounds for claim against the insurance companies, but as far as the shipping companies were concerned they were protected by clau«-s against liak'ility for strikes or lock-outs.

DIRECT SHIPMENTS. As far as this season was concerned, present indications were that there would be no difficulty over shipping. It would be noticed that an alteraton had been made fur the direct shipment of 10,000 boxes of butter from Moturoa on September J 2, and he hoped in a few days to receivr* notification of an allocation for cheese, he hoped, by direct shipment. Indieations pointed to the fact that it waa intended >to ship the produce more regularlj r , and it was satisfactory to have a shipment ; going so early. Mr. Morton touched on the quantity that had already been shipped by direct boats for New Plymouth. Referring to the operations of the company, Mr. Morton pointed out that they had during the year erected a house for their engineer,, and had arranged to erect one this year for their manager. The total value of their buildings and plant on the balance-sheet was a little over £46,000, but he pointed out that they were insured for £63,000, showing that the value was greatly in excess of the book value. The company was also in the unique position of having a credit at the bank. He con-' ' sidered (here would be no possibility of re- | during the storage charges for some time to come, as the present charges would be just sufficient to meet expenses in a normal year, when the produce was'shipped without undue storage. The directors had written off. 5 per cent depreciation on the buildings and 10 per cent, on plant, and though -this was in excess of the amount allowed—and some would be liable to be i taxed—ho considered it sound policy to sirertgthen the company as much as possible by writing it down during good years, as this would be of great assistance later on in the event of the buildings not being as valuable as they had been in the past few years. Mr. Morton then formally moved the adoption of the report and balancesheet. THE DISCUSSION. This was seconded by Mr. J. S. Connett, i who stated that it must be particularly J gratifying to hear that so much produce . had been shipped over their own wharf. i Mr. W. V. Harkness (Tariki) congratuj lated the company on the successful season. He considered some system should be adopted whereby the produce was sent out in practically the same order as it came in, instead of being a case of first in, last out. The chairman said that there was usually no difficulty, but when the works were full they had to empty those chambers that suited. To do as suggested would considerably increase the cost of handling. Mr. Wooldridge asked whether it would not be possible to arrange to take in cheese daily. At times the works were closed for a week, and this was inconvenient to factories that had to rely on motor lorries. The chairman recognised the inconvenience, but pointed out that it was due to the fact that after they had received notice of shipments these were often de- i layed a couple of days. After a little further discussion the re- ■ port and balance-sheet were adopted. I ELECTION OF DIRECTORS. | Messrs. J. S. Connett and H. M. Purdie were re-elected directors unopposed. Mr. C. S'. Rennell was re-elected auditor. The chairman was voted the usual honorarium.

A special resolution was passed leaving the fixing of the date of the annual meeting in the hands of the directors. A hearty vote of thanks was accorded the manager and staff.