THE DAIRY INDUSTRY.

Taranaki Daily News, 29 August 1922, Page 8

THE DAIRY INDUSTRY.

v TARIKI COMPANY. \ THE ANNUAL MEETING. The fifteenth annual meeting of the Tariki Co-cperative Dairj’ Company was held in the Tariki hall yesterday afternoon, Mr. W. V. Harkness presiding over a good attendance of shareholders. In moving the adoption of the report and balance-sheet, Mr. Harkness said the shareholders could congratulate themselves upon their record for a very trying period. In maintaining a progress payment of one shilling per pound of butter-fat, they had paid out more than was really safe, but their financial position was so sound that the directors had continued to do so. The company had been frotunate in making cheese at the beginning of the season, although others had advised them against it. They had made a mistake in continuing on too long before changing over. However, when they did turn to butter they managed to sell a large proportion at Wellington. The balance, about 500 boxes, had realised Is 7*4d at first, =ad finally Is 7%d per lb. The yield of milk showed an excess of 49601b5. of fat over the previous season. Of the produce shipped in twelve boats three were yet to be sold, and four had only just been disposed of. it being hoped they would realise a good figure and allow of a further payment to suppliers. The pay-out would be as good or better than aay factory he knew, and this he attributed to consigning through the Marketing Association, although it was regretted that they had not sold direct when prices were highest. During the year the manager’s house had been destroyed by fire and a new one built at a cost of £620. The insurances had totalled £420, so the actual cost to suppliers had not exceeded £2OO. The old house had been standing about twenty years. A difficult problem confronted the directors in deciding about the coming season. Advice had reached him that one company had sold its cheese at Bd, while butter for September was sought at Is B%d. Little business, however, was done.

With regard to part skimmed cheese, Mr. Corrigan, Hawera, had extended an invitation to -the directors to inspect his plant. and had promised to furnish particulars. This would be considered in due course. The N.D.A., the Rennet Company, and the Egmont Box Company had all shown losses, and as the Tariki Company was interested in them all it had been called upon, in company with other cooperative concerns similarly situated. The Rennet Company was now importing veils from Europe and Australia, but was prepared to buy locally at 9d per veil. The Bex Company was really in a comparatively good position, and deserved credit for the way in which supplies of either crates or boxes had come to hand. They had written off £35,000 for depreciation. A good many false reports dealing with the Marketing Association had been circulated, and he wished to combat some of the statements. The association would handle small or large parcels of wool, and growers who have taken advantage of its operations have come out better than those who sold elsewhere. The directors hive never been kept in the dark concerning the methods of the association. While Tooley Street merchants were charging 27s 6d per ton, the Marketing Association was in pocket after levying only £1 per ton. Moreover, C.W.S. banks would finance it at the rate of 4% per cent. At present It occupied the position of a good solid agent, but as supplies increased it would assume a more definite standing. Turning to the balance-sheet, he said there had been a reduction of £5OB in the butter account. All that was owing was £833 on the butter factory and £1217 on the Rugby Road branch. This Included land, buildings, and plant. No large stocks of requisites were left on hand. Wages had been reduced by £5l 8s 9d. which was considered satisfactory, as an extra man had been employed and more milk handled. Repair costs had been low. but. everything was in good order and the factories up-to-date. It'had only cost £134 16s 8d to run the lorry.

He then formally moved the adoption, and Mr. H. A. Rumball seconded.

Tn reply to a question, the chairman stated that the manufacturing costs, as near as could be ascertained, were 53s lOd per ton for Tariki and 50s 9d per ton for Rugby Road. Tariki had come thirteenth on the grading list and Miro sixth.

In reply to Mr. W. Kendrick, the chairman said that when a shipment was sold the> price was averaged over the whole consignment.

Asked as to Mr. Ellison’s position in regard to the Marketing Association. Mr. Harkness said that in conjunction with Mr. McFarlane he constituted two of a board of four, and fixed the selling price of produce. The other two members were representatives of the S.W.G.

About ino boxes of second class butter had been made during the season, and a supplier asked why this was so. The chairman explained that it had been due to a leakage, for which the manager took responsibility. The motion was then carried. ELECTION OF DIRECTORS. The retiring directors were Messrs. W. V. Harkness, H. A. Knowles, H. A. Rumball, and W. .T. Byrne. The last two, being for Rugby Road, were elected. For the other two vacancies five were nominated: Messrs. W. V. Harkness. J. Hucker, H. A. Knowles, G. Kettlewell, and J. Butler. In the resulting ballot Messrs. J. Hucker and W. V. Harkness were elected. Mr. J. R. .Tones proposed that the direceors’ honorarium be the same as last year. —Carried. Mr. G. Pullen was re-elected auditor. Mr. W. L. Jamieson moved a hearty vote of thanks to Mr. H A. Knowles for his services as a director.-—Carried by acclamation. Mr. W. V. Harkness proposed a vote of thanks and confidence in the manager, Mr. H. McCallum, and the secretary, Mr. W. B. Messenger.—Carried by acclamation. Mr. W. Kendrick moved a vote of thanks to the Rugby Road manager.—Carried. HERD-TESTING. At the close of the meeting Mr. N. Fulton addressed the suppliers on the subject of herd-testing. The farmers turned out high class cheese, but should go a step further and systematically tost their herds. Cow-test-ing aimed at finding the relative productivity of the individual animal, so that, at the end of the season, a farmer could put this information with what he would already know about his cow, and decide which to cull and which to breed from. There were certain hindrances to testing, namely the trouble of taking weights and samples, and apparent disappointment of some who have tried. Nobody should be discouraged because his testing returns did not exactly compare with his factory figures. At the factory the milk was weighed in hulk and samples tested only three times a month, while a cow under test had her yield weighed, sampled and tested at each milking. Another feature tending to discourage young testers was the fluctuations in the test of the same cow. Even with finely-bred pedigree stock a variation of as much as 2 per cent, had been recorded in a short interval. Until they became used to it, farmers new to association testing, might find the work arduous and complicated, but it was. in reality, very simple, and got more interesting as time went on. Mr. Singleton. director of the Dairy Division, had authorised him to state that the department was prepared to undertake the association testing provided it coincided with the time when the officers were in the district. Prospective members should push this thing and make haste to obtain their requisites. KAPONGA COMPANY. The annual report of the Kaponga Dairy Company, presented to the annual meeting held yesterday, was as follows: — For the season just concluded the quantity of milk received for manufacture was substantially in excess of the previous year—an increase of 22 per cent.—and in view of the untoward marketing conditions prevailing, the result of the year’s working must be considered quite satisfactory. Advances amounting to Is l’/ 3 d per lb butter fat over the eason’s supply have been made tn date, and it is proposed to make three [further payments of J Z>d per lb each on August | 20. and the next two ensuing 20ths, and the remainder so soon as the complete returns for the season are available. Tin- customary dividend of 4 per cent, is r- emmended for distribution to shareholders. Prospects for the coming season are difficu:t to forecast. Until September 30 the manufacture of butter will be proceeded with; «4*jue having been disposed of at a figure that

will return to suppliers Is 8d per lb butterfat. Statistics (figures for the previous year being shown in parentheses).—Lb milk used for butter making .4,377,205 (10,450,551), used for cheese making 15.072,400 (8,557,605). total 22,949,605 (19.008.156) ; lb butter-fat used for butter making 199,759 (424.511), used for Cheese making 694,463 (312,103), total 894,222 (736,614) : lb milk to 1 lb butter 20.4 (20.8), to 1 lb factory, cheese 9.56 (10) : lb factory, cheese to 1 lb butter-fat 2.72 (2.72) ; lb whey butter to 1 lb butter-fat .06 (.065) ; average test for year 3.9 (3.88), of milk for cheese making 3.84 (3.65), of milk for butter making 4.1 (4) ; overrun of creamery butter 19.6 (18.2) : output of commercial cheese nijide 523 tons 6 cwt. 941 b (363 tons), of whey butter made 18 tons 10 cwt. 10 lb (9 tons 0 cwt. 14 lb), of creamery butter made 106 tons 13 cwt. 551 b (223 tons 19 cwt. 57 lb), casein (16 tons 10 cwt. 57 lb), total 948 tons 10 cwt. 47 lb (612 tons 10 cwt. 1G lb) ; nett return per lb f.o.b. cheese (factory weights) 7.22 d, whey butter 13.53 d, creamery butter 15.24 d; expenses per lb butter fat to f.o.b. without depreciation 4.7 d (5.7 d with depreciation 5d (6d).