WAIKATO MILK SUPPLIERS' UNION.

Waikato Argus, Volume V, Issue 336, 3 September 1898, Page 4

WAIKATO MILK SUPPLIERS' UNION.

At a meeting of the Waikato Milk Suppliers' Union, held at the Hamilton Borough Council Chambers on Thursday, the following delegates were present : Messrs J. Fisher (chairman) and J. Gane (Pukerimu), R. Burke (To Awamutu), Berry and W. H. James (Alexandra), Reilly and Bruce (Harapipi), J. J. Graham and G. Bunciman (Hamilton). G. Finch and J. J. Ryburn (Faterangi), C. Limmer and Barford (Te Kowhai), T. Patcrsou and G. Pulmau (Ngaruawalua), W. W. Higginson (Whatawhata), T. Stanley and O'Donoghue (Te Aroha), M. Tieruey and Potts (Ohaupo), Elmsly and S. Armstrong (Kihikihi). Rules.— The rules were first considered at length, and several small alterations were made. Union.—Mr G. Finch proposed the formal resolution that the Union should be formed, and that the Secretary take the necessary steps to have it registered. Officers.—Mr J. Fisher was elected chairman for the ensuing year.—Mr Fisher, in returning thanks for the honour conferred upon him, said he hoped the Union would live long. They were working for the general good, and there was no doubt they would have more power when working in unison than individually. He hoped ere long to see all the creameries in the Waikato represented on the Union. —Mr O'Donoghue asked how mauy creameries opposed the Union.—Mr Higginson said oniy one.—Mr T. Paterson was then elected treasurer and Mr M. Butler secretary, and the following executive committee, to include the chairman and treasurer ex officio, was appointed: Messrs O'Donoghue, R. Burke, G. Ruuciman, J. G. Berry and Elmsly. Next Meeting of Suppliers. On the suggestion of the Chairman, it was decided to supply Mr Spragg with a copy of the rules of the Union, and after some discussion as to the place of meeting, Mr W. W. Higginson proposed that Mr Spragg be invited to meet the milk suppliers of Waikato at Hamilton, a 3 early as possible This was carried unanimously. The date for the meeting will not be fixed until Mr Spragg has been consulted.

Association Rules. Objection was taken to Association Rule No. 14, dealing with penalties for breach of contract, and empowering the Association to close any creamery not receiving a certain number of gallons daily.—The Chairman said they could not compel the Dairy Association to run any creamery at a loss ; but he thought twelve months' notice should be given. It was hard that the struggling settler, who could not control the leasons, should be penalised through no fault of his own.—The opinion of the meeting .was that all creameries should be run on the same tooting.—lt was agreed to bring this matter before Mr Spragg when he visits the district. Milk Tests.—A lone discussion ensued upon the subject of milk testing, and many of the delegates present expressed great dissatisfaction at the manner in which the tests wers carried out at the various creameries ; in fact, some serious allegations were brought forward ; but as these are likely to be ventilated when Mr Spragg attends the milk suppliers' meeting, we refrain from dealing with them at present. The'Pbice of Milk.—The Secretary said that in accordance with his instructions he had written to several reliable persons in Taranaki asking for information regarding the working of factories in that district. He had received several replies, one from Riverdale, as follows :—" (1) Our factory is both ; (2) we pay for butter fat only ; (3) we paid a little over 'tyd for 111 b of milk last season. I will enclose part ot last year's balance-sheet: The shares reserve aceouot or reserve fund now stands at £202 4s. The amount of milk received during the past season was 5,200,9791 b, from which 294,7481 b. of cheese and 86,0571 b. of butter were made, being equal to 10'371b. of milk to lib. cheese and 24'81b. of milk to lib. butter. The amount that has been advanced for milk is £6133 13s 2d, and your directors recommend a further payment of £BSS for milk supplied from January Ist to May 31st. Suppliers will then have been paid at the following rates per lb. of butter-fat:—From September Ist to December 31st, 1806, B£d ; January Ist to May 31st, 1897, Ist to Augußt 21st, lOd, or, in other •words, equal to 3-54 d per gallon of 111 b. for the whole season. The profit aud loss account, after allowing for depreciation, £164 Bs, shows a surplus of £977 4s 4d, which your directors recommend to be apportioned as follows :—A further payment of 2}d per lb. for butter-fat supplied from January Ist to May 31st — £BSB : a dividend of 8 per cent. on fully-paid shares £B7 83 lOd ; and a bonus of £lO to the Secretary, leaving a credit balance of £2l 15s 6d. This year we shall not be able to pay so much, on account of low prices for cheese at Home; I think about 3d. The balance-sheet is not out yet. Our cooperative factories pay from 2|d to 3£d, it depends upon the supply and management. A dairy of 75 to 100 cows should make £6 to £7 (milk alone) for the season. I milked 85 last season, and my milk cheque for the season was £697. This year it won't be so much, low prices and a dry summer, which does not agree with cows." Another letter was from Pihama, from which we take the following extracts : *' In answer to your first question : Ours is purely a butter factory, though a number of factories in Taranaki are fitted up for the manufacture of both cheese and butter, which is considered an advantage in many ways, especially those who have no freezing machinery. Eleven pounds of milk are calculated for a gallon, but, as ours is a cooperative concern, there is no fixed price, that being regulated by the price the butter sells at on the London market. "We have paid from 7-kl to lOjd per lb of butter fat, by the Babcock test; the 10£d was only for one month. Our average for the year will, I think, pan out between 7d and Sd, but I cannot say definitely until the end of the financial year, October 31st, with us. The result of the churn-butter in excess of butterfat by the Babcock test will average about 10 per cent. This result is hardly obtainable without freezing machinery. Our freezer is a Humble aud Nicholson, Ceelong, an<l gives us satisfaction. As to next season's output, we are doing as we did last year—we get an advance of 8(1 per lb t.o.b. the Home boat, without recourse, that is, for first grade. If the butter fetches a good price (after deducting all charges, including 4 per cent, for selling), we get whatever there is. The shipping to London usually ends about March. This last season we had a surplus of over £220 in excess of advances. We hope to do better this coming season, as wo will have a larger supply, and expect better management. I hope my old friend, Mr J. Sheat, h enjoying butter health. Kindly give him my warmest regards. If, at any time, I can be of any assistance to you as to dairy matters, don't be backward in asking. _ It is, no doubt, the greatest industry in Taranaki, and, should the dairying fail us, I hardly know how our small bush settlers would rub along. I. perhaps, have not given you the information you wish for; however, I will be only too pleased if I have. Meanwhile, I am, yours respectfully, R. Lambik." The third was from the Awatuna Cooperative Dairy Factory Company, Limited :—" (1) Our factory is a chepse and butter factory combined. (2) Last year (1890 7); we reckoned 101 b to the gallon, but in 1597-S we abandoned the word gallon and used lb. instead. We now weigh our milk and enter it up in pounds. (3) Wc pay at so much per lb. of butter-fat, advaiioiug as much as is thought advisable, aud when accounts

come in we reckon the surpluses in the same way, 50 much per lb. of butter-fat as evidence by Babcock test on the 7th, Uth, 23rd, and last day of each month. hi 1894-5 we paid 3d for gallon of I OM■ sold in the colony ; in 1895-C we paid 2id for gallon of 101 b consigned ; i-> 189(1-7 we paid 3d for gallon of 101 b sold in the co'ony ; 1897-S, n»t yet ascertained. We are a co-operative concern and cannot tell what we can pay in the future, but we get the market price and all there is in it." Several other balance -sheets, including those of the Balance Dairy Company and the One win. ro Dairy Company, were put in, all showing that the price in each case was much higher than that paid to the settlers in this district.-Mr Gane moved that the secretary should be instructed to write to Mr Spraga stating that the suppliers are not satisfied with the price Riven for milk, and also to explain that the union was not a hostile body, but wished to Work amicably with bin. anil place the industry on a footing satisfactory to both parties.—This was carried unanimously. Lower Waikvio Unios.—Mr Berry suggested communicating with the settlers of the Lower Waikato district, asking if they intended forming a union. —Mr Limmer said a copy of the rules had already been seut.—The secretary was instructed to communicate with several prominent settlers in the Lower Waikato upon the matter. TnANKS.—A vote of thanks to the chair, and to the Borough Council for the use of its offices, closed the meeting, _______________„,