The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1894-01-16
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THE CREAMERY SECRETARY.


He Is the Pivot Around Which Butter
Factory RevOlves.
The reasons multiply for the selection
of a conservative and thoroughly prac-
teal man for the care of any public in
stitution or association. l believe that
the successful creamery secretaries of
Iowa are those who hold responsible po-
sitions year after year, and have devel-
oped business talent in other occupa-
tions and the creameries get the benefit
of it. The systems of management of
creameries are almost as numerous as
the creameries themselves. With the
interlacings of authority common in
such cases there is no dearth of manage
ment, whatever may be said of the quail
ity. Boards at the very best are un-
wieldy, and except in the capacity of au-
ditors of accounts are likely to require
too much time for action, especially in
emergencies.
As rule singleness of management
is better than plurality. Granted rea-
sonable efficient secretary, the business
is safer in his hands than when abso-
lutely dependent upon a board for its
management. The keeping of the books,
the necessary payment for milk or
cream and the care of the shipping ac-
counts are his part in any case, and if
there is added the consignment of goods
and the purchase of supplies the strong
probability is that the creamery will be
the gamer thereby.
The experiment is usually tried at the
outset of keeping too meager set of
books. | have gone on from limited
outfit at the beginning to complete set
of double entry, showing every transac-
ton of the creamery, and the balance OF
every account of patrons and commission
firms at every entry, and | would not
stop short of this on any consideration
likely to be held out. The possibility of
mistakes makes such plan of bookkeep-
ing thoroughly desirable. This is espe-
cially true of cooperative creameries.
In these every stakeholder is partner.
Each one is entitled to an exact and de-
tailed account of the business. The only
hope of continued satisfaction on his part
lies in making everything plain to him.
Generally speaking, the greater the
amount of knowledge concerning the
creamery management, the more certain
it is that he will be satisfied and assist in
satisfying others.
Upon examination it will be found
that most of the hurtful things said
about a creamery contain simply enough
of truth upon which to hang that which
is untrue and damaging in character.
It is a case where "a little knowledge is
a dangerous thing"
A check given by the secretary should
be prima facie evidence of the whole
transaction. 1t should contain the date
to which payment is made, the gross
amount of milk, the average test for the
period of payment, the pounds of butter
fat, the price per pound of the butter
and the amount deducted from the
whole sum to the sinking fund. The
amount remaining to be paid should fol-
low as a matter of course. But the best
plan is to have all the foregoing informa-
ton extended upon stub to be retained
by the patron, the check proper contain
ing simply the features of a common
check directing the payment due the
patron.
Misunderstanding arise from patrons
of rival creameries comparing checks I'M
der the present various methods. The
checks do not show all the facts and are
therefore incapable of fair comparison.
Concealment of facts from those to whom
it is due never contributes to good will
or success of any business. 1t is doubt
| full if any class of men on earth are more
at the mercy of those with whom they
deal than those who are stockholders OF
our cooperative creameries. What with
the almost absolute ignorance of the
commercial standing of the city firms and
the guileless grace of that energetic army
of good fellows who by rail and road cart
and bicycle scour the country, it is nc
wonder the unsophisticated creamery
man can do nothing but deliver the
goods.
A complete shipping book should con
tain blanks for date of shipment, the con,
signee, the gross weight, the number Of
tubs, amount of draft made, date of re
ceipt at destination, net weight there
price paid, average price per tub, gross
proceeds and net proceeds.
Butter worked ON horizontal worker
will weigh heavily. The reason is thai
the butter is worked drier. This bears
upon the ''holding out Address of l
w. Edison, Reported in Creamery Jour
nal.