1941-01-20 — Page 134

CHINA MAIL, PAGE 80

HONG KONG CENTENARY NUMBER

1841

A Kingdom's Treasure

THIS Colony is well served by its

public companies, but

nono of them have been of such direct benefit to the health of the com- munity as has The Dairy Farm Ice & Cold Storage

Co., Ltd., which to-day holds ever greater responsibility food supplies for the Colony

uncertain in these times.

Established in 1886 as the result of patient labour by Dr. (later Sir the Patrick) Manson, G.C.M.G.. Company was floated with a pald up capital of $30,000 and an ini- tial head of 80 cows, only to show a loss of $13.186 in its first year. Its second year, however, showed a profit of $3.384

Greater demands for the Com- pany's produce caused the impor- tation of more cattle and made it necessary for a fairly extensive building scheme to meet the de- mands of expansion, and in 1880 the capital of the Company was increased to $100,000. It was at this juncture, however, that Dr. Manson left the Colony and at the same time severed his connection with the firm

Scottish Acumen

In the following year Mr. James Walker was brought put from Scotland to manage the affairs of the Company, and the present success of the Company is due in no small measure to his shrewd business acumen and perserver- ance, especially following the 1896 catastrophe, when rinderpest car- nied off the whole of the herd and forced the Company into liquida- Lion

The need for a European Dairy was, however, tuo great to allow to lapse, and it was not surprising that the Company was reconstruct- ed under the chairmanship of Dr J. W. Noble, a director of the first Company, and with a nominal ca- pital of $75,000 and $50,000 pald up Mr. Walker was again ap- pointed Manager, and Mr. W. Hut- ton Potts was the first Secretary. *

So successful was the new ven- ture that a profit of $8.000 was returned in the first year, and the Company has continued to show profits, although the first dividend was not paid until 1899, when six per cent. was declared.

In 1905 the sum of $90,000 was transferred from the reserve and 15,000 bonus shares were issued In the proportion of 3 to 2. Four years later a similar transfer was made, but this time the bonus shares were issued in the propor- tion of 3 to 5, and in 1917 a new issue of 20,000 shares was made, shures being offered to registered holders

the basis of 1 to 2 shares. Six dollars per share was called up. In 1918 the unpaid call of $1,50 per share on the 60.000 shares issued was made, while the capital was increased by an issue of 54,000 shares, at $7.50 per share,

on

A further increase was made in 1922, bringing the Company's Capital to 200.000 shares at $7.50 each fully paid.

Bonus Shares

In 1931 the capital was increas- ed by the creation of 100,000 new shares, of which 50,000 had been Issued in the "proportion of 1 to 4 shares held, thus increasing paid-up capital of the Company from $50,000 to $1,875,000!

the

This was further increased in 1939 when 41,905 shares were ia- ; sued to shareholders in the pro- portion of 1 share for every 6 held, For this issue shareholders: were asked to pay $5.00 per share in

It's

has Company

where vegetables under European

The gardens, th:

grown vision.

cash, while $2.50 per share was paid from the Reserves of Company. The total of the Issued Capital of the Company now amounts to $2,200,012.50.

Having maintained a conserva- tive policy, though never failing to appreciate to the full public requirements, the Dairy Farm is to-day a model concern that pro- duces milk of the highest grade and comparable to Tubercular Tested Posteurised grade in Great Britain. It has a herd of some 1,900 animals, one of the largest herds in the world and roughly 100 per cent, more than the num- ber they had nine years ago, and this herd, though ever increasing, has been T.B. free since 1935.

The herd is composed of Frie- sien, Ayrshire, Jersey and Illa- wara breeds, and this magnificent collection of animals is guarded as zealously as any kingdom's treasure. Every cow is examin- ed for tuberculosis at frequent in- torvals, and all young stock Is treated with serum which renders

Own

are

super-

̈“Magnificent Herd

and bacon large scale.

is undertaken

on a

Com-

Products for which the pany has built up a truly, enviable record are ice cream, for which they are completely equipped for an unlimited supply--their ice cream cakes are an increasingly popular item on the dinner party menu-sausages of numerous var- ieties are manufactured, after ex- tensive preparations for the estab- lishment of such a department under door.

expert management, "Green Spot", for which there is the latest syrup making; and filter- ing plant-it is made with dis- tilled water-and "Popsicle" and "Fudgicle", two frozen confections that were placed on the market last year for the first time and which proved eminently satisfac- tory to both young and old.

The extreme precautions laken to assure the health of the herd-- the cow sheds are both fire and typhoon proof, so much so that they are not insured are even magnifled in the various processes before the bottle of milk is actual- ly left at the consumer's The cowboys are masked when milking the cows, as are all the dairy operators, and all utensils used ure subjected to rigid sterili- sation methods,

In April 1939. the Pasteurisation of Milk was enforced by Govern- ment order, but the Company, who had actually advocated such regulation, had in the previous year expended nearly $300 000, on newly built premises ut East Point, equipped with every mo- dern device for the Pasteurization and bottling of milk under hy- gienic conditions, and with the

The reconstruction plans of Hong Kong Land Investment and Agency Co., Ltd. towards the end of last year have necessitated the removal of the Company's Town Branch, next to the St. Francis Hotel, and as a result the admin-

A small section of the Dairy Farm showing the most up-to-date cow sheds, paddocks and

pig pens, In the background can be seen a part of the acreage for grass-growing.

it immune from the dread: rinder- pest. Since 1920 the Farm has had its own veterinary surgeon and with every cow, being fed with only the best fodder, possible. it is hardly surprising that this herd ranks as one, of the health- iest in the world.

most up-to-date machinery for the cleansing and sterilisation of bottles. It is from here that their vans deliver the Colony milk sup- ply,

In 1922 the increasing demand for Ice & Cold Storage. led to the pulling down of old buildings, the scrapping of obsolete. machinery and the erection at East Point of a modern Plant capable of pro- ducing 80 tons of ice per 24 hours. and of providing 290,000 cu. feet ef,-storage space.

Cold Storage

Further extensions have been nude fram, time to time, and fo day the Company possesses. in- stallations with a total cold stor

The farm, covering; an area of 256 acres and approximately 500 ft. above sea level, thus receiving the full benefit, of the Summer, breezes, is situated at Pokfulam, and from here, four miles from their Town Headquarters, a stain- less steel truck delivers the milk to the Main, Dairy, at East Point, The Company also operates a fleet launches which extend efficient service to Hsage. capacity of 915,000 cu. feet Majesty's ships and mercantila and Plant which has doubled their

ice-making capacity. .marine, $0 much so that many` large liners on the Eastern run purchase the bulk of their perish- able provisions here in Hong Kong. ***

of its

bulls Apart from cows,

and calves there are on the Farm some 500 pigs of varying breeds and 400′′: Leghorn hens,

of 1930 a Towards the end Quick Freezing Plant was install- ed to deal more efficiently with fish. This Plant has proved suc- cessful but has not been fully used, due to the shortage of flah raused by Sino-Japanese hostili- tles.

Also in their East Point Factory the curing and smoking of hams

3.

to

istrative offices will be removed shortly from, Lower Albert: Road the mezzanine floor of the newly, completed Windsor, House, the while the front portion of ground floor, with Des Voeux Road frontage, will house a complete N semi- Food Emporium -with mezzanine section in the same area for a Soda Fountain and Cafe. thus fulfilling a long-felt need in the central district. These premises are to be air conditioned through- out.

:

Branches have been established in Nathan Road, Kowloon; Prince Edward Road, Kowloon, Hung Hom, in Kowloon, Causeway Bay, Quarry Bay, the Peak and In Can- Lon.

This Directors of the Company are the Hon. Mr. T. E. Pearce (Chairman). the Hon. Mr. S. H. Dodwell, the Hon. Mr. A. L. Shields. Mr. L. J. Davies and Mr. D L. Newbigging.

The Manager is Mr. J. D. Thom- son, who has been associated with the Company since 1920, while Mr. G. Mine is Secretary,

1941