West Coast Farmers’ Cooperative Lime Producing Co., Ltd.

Hokitika Guardian, 8 January 1924, Page 4

West Coast Farmers’ Cooperative Lime Producing Co., Ltd.

QUARTERf.V REVIEW EV THE SECRETARY. When i took over the duties of Secretary for this Company in October last .some kind friends said that I was in for a bad time and warned me about all sorts of misgivings they had, what might happen and what did not Imppen, They say tie* .Scotch are dour, dogged and determined, but 1 only said. “She must go or bust. ' My first li-tter to eerlain shareholders read thus:—“No man likes to lose a iiiend. It is bett• ■ r to have a man for a friend than to make an enemy of him. Very often a man's actions are mi-umler-sinod ami he is looked upon as an enemy. Why k Simply because no explanation lias been asked for the imagined wrong word or action. U you have any complaints or any suggestions to make for our mutual bench’ in the eomlmi of this business, do not be afraid to advise us, so that we ran improve our methods in the future. Erem October Ist. our business is under new management, fn the past our accounts have be.-n allowed to drift. For the future the Directors have instructed me to place all accounts owing over six months in the (mud., of our Solicitors lor collection. If in pushing for prompt payment we incur your displeasure just reinemhc/. that this is business and to be successful so that we can in the future pay dividends, we must conduct our business in a business-liko way. “The majority of our shareholders pay up like men but the minority are liable to leave £IOOO in the hooks, and this at 8 per eont. means that the majority are helping to pay for it. Owing to the present state of the moneymarket we purpose adding 8 per cent, to all overdue accounts, and any lelt over six mouths will be handed to our .Solicitors for collection. "Our principal expenditure is for the wages of men employed in producing the lime and as they must he paid re-

gularly and w ithout fail, we are compelled to ask the minority te join with the majority and pay up like men. We shall he pleased to hear from you ill the ease of any hardship and hope you will accept this letter in the same friendly spirit in which it. i--> written.

.Many shareholders do not seem to realise that, they are the real owners of this business and that it they do not do their part, unitedly, how can they expect to make it a dividend (laying concern, Ilv biisine:—. i- to attend to your orders, but when you send in orders lor lit!) tons per week, and we can only produce oli lolls per week, then someone lias to wait their turn hclnre then can be supplied. It certainly would be much worse if during the coming v. inUT wc only gut s;iv ions ot orders per week, whirli would I>nng down the yearly average. 'lho problem before it- is how can. vbest avoid the rush of orders during the spring months. Niiito slmi’eholdeis sa\ that the nun-shareholders should not he aide to gel lime at the same rate as a shareholder, hut should pay As per ton more. Vie cannot do this, otherwise the Railway Department would 1 1< i f /:(!’I V (> 1011-- i.)V OVt.T i !‘l'o fin lUP rdk- from J.*oss. 1 'mil such lime as the number of I jb.-iii ie.liii.is i- i niisideiablv increased ;:,: 1 1 tin ..1 pi t.i l of the Cunpanx Is ' doubled. ibvn you can ask your Directors to put in another kiln in cope with the in-ii of order;, in the Spring. fi tin- !illl ie.t* • vre linisl usk tile liouharebold' > in order his lime during the l.e k moo iI; (at the same price a - a h.irelnr.iei ). and build a small -lied in ivhmls lie can fixe 111- lime until re ■ ■ 11 iii t d o' ; lie ■ pnne.. The slian bolder who ha- 2d : hal es In, Imd tu nay tim. aSnoUiil !" ohm in hr. brio ami why should m-r -fit:, !'onI ; Speed £-Jo 1!! bunding !• shell I 0.-ti’eg I Of more, ordt in linic iii the fall o! the year and sior ing it until he requires it. Shareholders now have the privilege of hooking ahead for next Spring. .Vs soon as you have planned your requirements lor the months c.f September. October, November and December, von can bool; for deliveries at the beginning, middle or end ol the above months and allowing lor bad weather, break downs or unforeseen circumstances you can depend upon deliveries being up to time. Vi e will only book fit) tons for any week, and once these dates are applied for and granted oilier applicants orders will be placed ahead and notified. Tiefore closing I wish to thank shareholders who responded to my appeal for help in putting this Company on a sound financial basis. Von often hear that farmers are notoriously had “pays” but this has noL been my experience Ibis time although some have said I have pushed them to write out a cheque. However, they will be very pleased they did so when they see the list of invitations being .sent out this month to a levee which will he (iresided over by the “Magistrate. In Oetohei we had LMoOO in the hooks and during the quarter just ended I had

tho ])lo;is>iro- of paying into tin 1 Jisinl» money received from shareholders and non-shareholders alike, the magnificent sum of over £I.OOO. Who can say that farmers are had “pays” after that? To those who may he displeased with my methods T can only sa.v that in .iti\ successful business to-day there must he some driving force in the man at the helm.