THE DAIRYING INDUSTRY.

Waikato Argus, Volume XI, Issue 1050, 17 September 1901, Page 2

THE DAIRYING INDUSTRY.

MEETING AT OHAUPO. A meeting of the Ohaupo milk suppliers was held in the hotel on Saturday evening. The business was to hear the report of the delegates who had been appointed to attend the late meeting at Hamilton. Eleven suppliers were present. Mr Miller was voted to the chair, who stated they had all heard the result of the meeting of delegates, and that it had been decided by the majority to accept the proposal and take shares in the new company. The Chairman then read the amended prospectus which caused some discussion. Re a supplier selling his shares if he gave up milking or was leaving the district, the Chairman said that in the .ompany he belonged to in Taranaki a shareholder, if he were leaving the district could sell his shares to anyone, in fact, they were put up to auction when the cows were being sold. The tone of the meeting was against suppliers selling to outsiders, and also against a high rate of interest being paid. Objection was taken to the managing director being chairman of the Board during his term of engagement, and the following resolution was carried : 1 That this meeting thinks it desirable that the chairman of directors should be elected by the board of directors at each annual meeting ’ p.e the delegates the meeting was of opinion they ought to have met and considered the proposals before meeting Mr Spragg. All those present decided to take up shares. A vote of thanks to the chair closed the meeting. TO THE EDITOR. Sir,— Having been away in Auckland for a few days I did not see Tuesday's Argus till my return ou Saturday last. Since Mr Spragg’s scheme seems to have been more or less adopted by the dairymen of cadi district, uo good end can be gained by trespnsing further on your space. At the same time I adhere to the opinion that the system of a group of creameries with a central batter factory will prove the best for dairymen. It will he easier and better for such factories to combine for the purpose of marketing their butter than to try and run the whole from start to finish as proposed Mr Spragg. Your correspondent 1 Standout,’ gives a number of figures which should cause dairymen to reflect, and as for the Auckland investors, whom Mr Spragg says would subscribe for the shares, all I can say is that I could not find any of them, so dairymen have plenty of time to think the matter well out before applying for shares. In reply to Mr T. U, Blackett, I learn from a letter from the secretary of the Hautapu factory, that the nominal capital of that company is £4-009 in £1 shares. The purchase price for land, plants, and buildings (which includes buildings, and plants fur making and storing cheese and bacon as well as butter), was £2,068. The guaranteed number of cows is over 1000 and the subscribed shares will be of equal number. The number of shareholders I learn is about 40.—1 am, etc., J, D. P. Morgan, TO THE EDITOR Sir, —Being willing to take shares in the New Zealand Dairy Association if it is proved to be true co-operation would you or some of your readers answer the following questions : 1. Is the surplus profit to be divided op the shares a person holds or on the butter Mat supplied ? 2. A supplier taking shares if he stops supplying does he get a share of the profits? 3. If a person supplies one year for the purpose of getting shares can he hold the shares and claim a share of the pr ofits ? 4. D;es a supplying non shareholder get any of the profits ? If not, wiry not ? Hoping to get satisfactory answers.— I am, etc., Wm. Mawiiinney. [The above are questions for Mr Spragg or the solicitor to the company to apswer.-"Ep. W.A ]

CAMBRIDGE COOPERATIVE DAIRY COMPANY-

A qenkr >ii meeting of the Cambridge Co-operative Dairy Company was held in the Counoil Chambers on Monday at 1 p.m, There were about 30 shareholders present. Mr James Taylor (Chairman of Directors) presided. The retiring directors presented the following report;— Your directors have much pleasure iu reporting that in due course the property of the late Cambridge Dairy Association was taken over on behalf of the company at the figure already reported to you. Since taking it over your directors have overhauled certain parts of the machinery, and have also purchased some new appliances to bring the factory up to date. These appliances consist of cream lifts and new skim milk pumps. The pig paddock and accommodation has also been improved. The suppliers met for a ‘ working bee ’ during the first week and very much improved the property iu fencing and gravelling. There were some suppliers who were not present at that ‘ bee,’ but your directors feel sure that they will contribute their share when another bee is required. Your directors have mueh pleasure in stating that they sold to the Auckland Freezing.Co,, the whole of the exportable surplus of butter at 9|d per lb., f.0.b., and since doing so they feel sure they have every reason to be satisfied with such sale. Yout directors are pleased to report that Mr Beaoge has bOBb secured as manager for tin c mi puny and they feel sure the result of this choice wilTbe gratifying to the shareholders, as the article now turned out is pronounced very goo ri. Your directors were approached by a deputation from Pukekura asking on what terms the company would tike them in,and your directors replied in the terms already placed before you in the Press, and your directors to-day will ask you to give them power to come to definite arrangements. The matter of testing in past years has sometimes left a doubt in the minds of suppliers and your directors now state that the manager (Mr Beangej, will at any weekly test be pleased for any supplier to be present and witness tne testing, Mr J. Allwill, speaking to the report, said that he did not wish to go into the question of the Spragg company, hut he would point out that if tiie Pukekura suppliers joined them it would he to there natua! advantage, as “the union of the two districts would greatly reduce the expenses in proportion to the quantity of milk put through, The Pukekura suppliers were mostly anxious to help them, and he was only sorry they could not take them iu this season. It was for this meeting to decide on what terms they would admit them to the Association, for although the directors had been in communication with them, the matter would have to fie finally decided at this meeting. Just one other matter —If the shareholders had any inquiries or complaints to make in connection with the working of the Association, they oould get direct information at the office or through the directors, and he hoped that they on all occassions would avail themselves of this privilege.

Mr Luxton said he was a newcomer to the district, hut from what he could see it would be decided advantage to both sides to admit the Pukekura suppliers, and even if they only brought in 500 cows, it would materinly assist the Association. They had the officers and plant to run a much larger business, and the larger the business the less the exposes in proportion. There was another feature of the case. A union with the Pukekura suppliers would naturally increase their bacon business, and be knew from experience that the more stuff you could put on the market * provided the quality was right, better prices were obtained. Personally, he was quite prepared to give the Pukekura suppliers a hearty welcome into the Association. In answer to a shareholder the Secretary said the weekly wages of the staff were roughly £5 l(h. After further discussion of details, Mr Luxton moved ‘ That the offer made to the Pukekura suppliers, in the Secretary’s letter already published, he confirmed, provided that not less than 500 cows are represented, and this meeting authorises tiie directors to deal with the matter.’

Seconded by Mr C. Lake and carried. Speaking to the motion, Mr Alhviß said he felt sure than before next season suppliers in other localities would want to join the Association. The matter had been mentioned to him by supplieis in two or three districts, and he had assured them that he would do all in his power to facilitate their admission into the Association.

The following gentlemen were nominated for the directorateMessss J. Taylor, J. Allwill, J. G. Ward, Kelly, Andrews, M. Ashwiu, Lake and Luxton. Upon a ballot being taken Messrs Taylor Allwill, Luxton, Potts, Andrews, Kelly and Ward were declared elected. On the motion of Mr Aahwin, seconded by Mr Andrews, Messrs Hartly and Dickenson were elected auditors for the ensuing year at a fee of one and a-half guineas each. Mr Allwill moved a vote of thanks to the Cambridge Borough Council for the use of the Council Chambers from time to time.

A vote of thanks were also passed to the retiring directors.