JBM19011022

1901 October 22nd
Minutes of Directors’ Meeting held at the Brewery Offices at 3.30 p.m.
on Tuesday 22nd October 1901
Present: Messrs James Dodds (Chairman), T.B. Glover, C.B. Bernard,
O. Haynemann, J.D. Hutchison, and F.S. James (Managing Director)
The Minutes of the previous meeting of 6th September were read andconfirmed.
¾

Crown Corks
Crown Corks

The Managing Director reported that in the trial which

had been made it was found that the breakage was greater than with ordinarycorks and the conclusion had been come to that the old style of corks was best.
¾The Financial Statement and the Chief Brewer’s and Engineer’s Reports
for September
The Financial Statement prepared for the Meeting was read as were also

the Chief Brewer’s and Engineer’s Reports for the month of September.
¾Managing Director’s Report
The Managing Director’s Report was read, in which were detailed onalteration which had been made in the method of applying the Tax Law andthe steps which had been taken to meet it. The Chairman remarked that thesesteps, involving, as they did, the filtering in advance of requirements of a verylarge proportion of the stock of beer and the consequent saving to theCompany of a considerable sum of money, reflected much credit on theManaging Director. Some discussion followed as the tax which would beclaimed on the stock of beer still unfiltered on 1st October (the amount of which
would be about yen 15,000) and it was resolved to wait and see what action

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was taken by the Breweries’ Association who, as the Managing Director
reported, would probably bring a test case before a Count of Law.
¾Accounts for the Half-Year to 30th Sept. and Interim Dividend of 7.50 yenper Share
Accounts for the half-year to 30th September were gone into and the result

considered as very satisfactory.

In connection with them the Chairman

stated that one of the Auditors, Mr. Guinness, had, in conversation with him,
spoken of the Reserve Fund as being merely a book item and not an invested
liquefiable amount; and also that in his opinion expenditure on repair ofbuildings cellars &c should not be considered as an asset. Mr. Dodds had told
Mr. Guinness that the Directors would be glad to receive any written memo hemight make on these subjects but the members of the Board now present
expressed the opinion that the Fund although not existing in cash was wellinvested in the business; and, as regards to buildings etc, it was remarked
that they were not taken as assets at all, but were paid for out of the Wear andTear accounts – the Chairman further adding that the Buildings andMachinery stood in the books at a figure much lower than that at which they
could be replaced. Consideration of an Interim Dividend for the half year
followed ,when it was unanimously resolved to declare and pay yen 7.50 pershare, Payment to be made on 5th November.

A proposal by Mr. James that

this should be advertised in the newspapers together with an intimation of theclosing of the Share Register for a suitable period was agreed to.
¾

Auditor, Showler’s Resignation and Hall’s Resumption
Auditor A letter from Mr. Showler resigning the post he had temporarily

held was read, and Mr. Hall’s resumption of the duties was agreed to.

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Chief Brewer Kayser’s Hesitation over the Order for Vats
Chief Brewer Kayser

Mr. James reported in a semi-official manner thatsome months ago Mr. Kayser had been very anxious to obtain a number ofextra storage casks and fermentation vats.

The storage casks were objected

to by the Directors on account of the uncertainty of any increase of cellarage
accommodation but Mr. Kayser insisted on the fermentation vats, saying theirpurchase was imperative, and accordingly an order for 50 was sent toGermany.

A few days ago a communication from the manufacturer wasreceived through Messrs Carl Rohde & Co relative to a slight alteration
proposed in the dimensions of the vats.

This alteration Mr. Kayserpronounced to be immaterial and he asked that a telegram to that effect betelegraphed to Germany, as he was in urgent need of the articled, but
notwithstanding this, he, on the very next day, said he could do without thevats and that the order should be cancelled.

Fortunately there was still time

to do this otherwise much unnecessary outlay might have been incurred. TheChairman commenting on this said Mr. Kayser had shown great vacillation
and wondered whether he knew his business. Mr. James added that Mr.
Kayser had since explained that owing to the exceptional extent of bottlingand stoppage of brewing lately he found that he could get the old vats done up
and so do without new ones. The Chairman said he had discussed with Mr.
James what should be done in case it should unfortunately become desirable
to release Mr. Kayser and he found that Mr. James had formed a very highopinion of Mr. Eichelberg who he thought was quite capable of taking up theposition – one drawback, however, to such an arrangement being that Mr.
Wendt was hardly suited to take the place of second brewer.

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It was notJBM19011022suggested to move at all in the matter at present these remarks being madesimply with the intention that all the Directors should be aware of what had
passed and the position of affairs.
¾

Supplies of Malt and Hops
Supplies of Malt and Hops

Mr. Haynemann referred to the orders forthese good which had recently been transmitted through Messrs Carl Rode &Co. He expressed astonishment at their smallness as compared with those of
the previous year and said he had enquired what was the reason of the falling
off but had received no information.

He read a telegram from Mr. Rohde in

Hamburg stating that 200 cases of Bohemian Malt had been bought by thebrewery, which malt Mr. Rohde did not recommend, and he now asked
whether the Board had determined to change the quality of the malt used –contrary to their previous decision. Mr. Dodds said malt arrivals lately had
been much in excess of requirements and, although the brewery had
fortunately been able to sell a considerable quantity, stocks were still verylarge.

Mr. James said about 180 cases of Malt had been bought throughanother channel, whether Bohemian or not he could not say, but Mr. Kayser
had reported favorably upon it while the price was cheaper than that ofordinary imports. Some conversation followed when Mr. James undertook togo further into the matter and to bring it up again at next meeting.
The Meeting then closed at 5.30 p.m.
James Dodds
Chairman4