THE BUTTER BONUS.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIII, Issue 4379, 17 February 1922, Page 1

THE BUTTER BONUS.

PATETONGA OBJECTIONS. A STATEMENT WANTED. A meeting of Patetonga settlers which was only fairly well attended was held in the Hall on Tuesday night, to discuss, with other matters, the retention of the butter bonus by tlie N.Z. Co-pp. Dairy Co. Mr F. J. Mayn occupied the chair. Mr Mayn read a notification from the company setting out that the ad vance prices should be kept as low as possible for the time being. As there had been an overpayment at the beginning of the season the suppliers should realise that low payments were imperative. He said it was well known that the payment was long overdue. . They had overpaid and were making the suppliers foot the bill. He did not intend approaching the Parliamentary party in the matter... It was fairly reasonable to assume that the £50,000 was due to the farmers. The company was using the suppliers’ money to reduce overdraft The overpayment was made to suppliers in July, August, and September. The minority was affected, and those had the majority fighting against them. He thought the time was opportune for some move. Mr T, McLoughlin said that as suppliers they had every right to den mand the bonus,. If the company, had made mistakes it should rectify them. Mr J. Patterson suggested that representatives of the c.ompany should . come to explain the actual position. Mr Mayn agreed that a representa•tive of the company should attend a meeting in • Patetonga to explain matters. The majority of suppliers would not complain, as they had been overpaid, but the minority should get justice. Mr Patterson said that the settlers were in an unfortunate position. in not having a company’s representative at the meeting. It was pointed out that on two butter shipments the company had lost £BO,OOO, and to meet the losses there had to be a curtailment in payments. The suppliers had not yet received a definite statement from the company.

ADJUSTMENT PROMISED. Mr Mayn said they should take immediate action. The company should make some endeavour to recover the money lost. The suppliers shpuld demand’ that the short payments should be cleared up. The affair had been going on for months, Mr D„ Williams said that if the company was co-operative the men who were getting 2s at the beginning of thb season should come back to the level of the others at the end of the season. It was pointed out that Mr Sinclair had promised that an adjustment would be made. Mr McLoughlin contended that the company was holding back a fair margin. There were mistakes being made, and there must be something wrong with, the men in office. Mr D.. Rogers did not think that they should allege Incompetency on the part of the heads of the companyAs a late district Patotonga did not participate in the early good payments. He would urge that an explanation be made by the Company, to whom they must make it clear that the money shpuld be paid. Mr Mayn said that he would not allege incompetency, but if a mistake had been made about the £50,000 it was time the heads went out of office. It would .be a serious matter. Mr Patterson urged that a statement should be made through the press. Tlie question was whether the company would make the statement public.

Mr Mayn said if the butter payments were not made there would certainly be Court cases. Mr Patterson said that according to statements published in the “ Gazette ’’ payments of the bonus would be made in April. The c'ompany should hurry find get their books fixed up. so as to enable it to pay last year’s bonus. Mr Mayn thought the company had established a precedent by overpaying the suppliers. To be honest the late suppliers should at present he getting a'Bbut Is 2d and K the early suppliers about 7d. Mr Whiteman thought the meeting should ask what position the late suppliers would be in. UNSATISFACTORY METHOD.

Mr Whiteman moved “That this meeting of Patetonga suppliers regards the withholding of the final butter bonus as a means of adjusting the present season’s advance payments as an unwhoUy satisfactory method of dealing with the situation, and tihiat a definite statement be made by circular to suppliers regarding the £50,000 alleged to be due frojp the Government; also that this meeting urge the company to expedite payments of the butter bonus/’ Mr Patterson seconded the motion, which was carried. Mr Rogers moved that in future th? coflipany’s books be brought up to date-' and that the butter bonus be paid on or before August 31. Mr A. Christie second, and the motion was carried. ,