THE Hauraki Plains Gazette With which is incorporated THE OHINEMURI GAZETTE. Motto: Public Service. MONDAY, WEDNESDAY, & FRIDAY. MONDAY, AUGUST 22, 1921. DAIRY ELECTION.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXII, Issue 4307, 22 August 1921, Page 2

THE Hauraki Plains Gazette With which is incorporated THE OHINEMURI GAZETTE. Motto: Public Service. MONDAY, WEDNESDAY, & FRIDAY. MONDAY, AUGUST 22, 1921. DAIRY ELECTION.

The result of'the election of directors of the New Zealand Cooperative Dairy Company, Limited. has been to return a good strong directorate, and few will find fault with the personnel, but there is a widespread realisation of the fact that there are grave deficiencies which must be remedied before another year comes round. The fact of a great scope of famous dairyingcountry such as the Hauraki Plains County having no resident representative on the Board of Directors is a gross anomaly which all parties realise the injustice of. This curious situation has arisen from the circumstance that the basis of voting is. utterly unreasonable—a burlesque. It is stated that suppliers to the dried milk factory at Waitoa, having votes for butter, cheese, and dried milk, nad a voting power in the proportion of 8 to

against the Plains suppliers. One of the successful candidates, Mr F. W. Walters, felt the position so keenly that it was with difficulty that he was persuaded to retain his seat. However, there is not the shadow of a doubt that this anomaly, which is an unforseen result of the amalgamation with Thames Valley, will be swept away before next election. Whether there will be a restriction of voting power, say, up to 150 or 200, or a single representative for dried milk interests or ah alteration in the representation of wards, will be a matter for the directorate to decide. In the meantime, the best will have to be made of an unfortunate situation.

The annual report, which is published in the “Gazette” today, makes interesting reading. Among the outstanding features are the mention of the managing director’s visit overseas to organise the marketing, ■ the wretched injustice of the incidence of taxation as affecting co-operative companies (especially the sma 1 ! shareholders), the ridiculously low allowance the Government makes for depreciation on machinery and buildings, and the expression of gratification that the end of State interference with sales and prices will Be a thing of the past after the end of this month. All things considered, the- Company has had a satisfactory season, and the suppliers have a Board composed of men of long experience and seasoned judgment to .conduct operations for the ensuing yea”.