POKENO.

Franklin Times, Volume 9, Issue 759, 8 September 1922, Page 3

POKENO.

One of the most enthusiastic suppliers’ meetings held in the district took place in the Pokeno School on 28th August. Suppliers were present from Whangarata, Razorback and Maungfvtawhiri. Mr C. J. Leatham was voted to the chair, and in his opening remarks referred to the considerable urirest prevailing, and claimed; that the district had been neglected by the management, mentioning - the fact that the suppliers were in .absolute ignorance of the inner working of their concern. He congratulated Mr R. H. McKenzie on having the confidence of the majority of the shareholders, who had again returned him to his position on the Board of Directors, and enjoined the suppliers present to be loyal to their own company, and took this opportunity to air any grievance they have.

Mr McKenzie,, on rising to address the suppliers , thanked the chairman for his remaVks in relation to his re-election* and expressed himself as being always willing and pleased to give any information concerning the business of the suppliers, stating that it: was now the intention of the management to call the suppliers’ district committees together at regular intervals throughcat the year for that purpose.

. Mr McKenzie’s address was interesting and instructive, quoting' figures showing clearly that the company compared more than favourably with ,any other butter business in New Zealand', He also referred t,o the several policy measures of the company coall mines, box factory, etc.., pointing out the great saving fbat would eventuate in the near future* resuming: his: sebt amid applause. Mr Dynes Fulton also addressed the meeting, remarking that, Mr McKenzie had left him very little to say. But at that stage he warned the suppliers to beware of the proprietary concerns creeping in where dissatisfaction existed backed by foreign capital. Theft 1 object was to gull the farmer and caiuse a rift in the great cooperative business. At this stage the chairman asked Mr FuYton bp account for the reason why dairying districts like Morrinsville, Hinuera and East Tamaki were starting co-operative butter businesses on their own account, If what he stated was correct : That the conditions of our own company was all that it should be.

Mr Fulton’s reply was in the nature of ian assumption, and Mr J. Dean asked if it were not a fact that promises had been made that factories would be erected by our own company in the districts mentioned. The company had failed to carry out their promise. Mr Ddan was armed with the latest balance sheet. The meeting was treated to a very interesting halfhour’s argument. The directors were kept very busy defending the policy of the company, and the suppliers for the time at all events forgetting the long looked for bonus with its varied reclamations. *, However, this argument terminated by a motion being proposed and carried that it be a; recommendation f rom this meeting of Pokeno suppliers to the management-: To procure sufficient overdraft from the bank; p&y the suppliers all the cash due them for last season’s supply in one payment, retaining only sufficient to pay the interest on the overdraft for the short time that the company require.:!: to sell its produce on hand. A ballot to elect a distinct suppliers’ committee resulted in Mr A. Gummer, P, W. Ryburn and C. J. Leatham being successful. A vote of confidence in; Mr W. Goodfellow as managing director, proposed by Mr Dean and seconded by the chairman, was carried oy acclamation. A vote of thanks to Messrs McKenzie and Fulton terminated the meeting.