CORRESPONDENCE.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVII, Issue 5033, 29 September 1926, Page 2

CORRESPONDENCE.

DAIRY CO.’S BRANCH OFFICE. £To the Editor.! Sir,—At a conveners’ meeting in Paeroa of the Thames Valley district of the N.Z. Co-operative Dairy Co. on the 21st inst. it was re,solved to abolish the district branch office in Paeroa and centralise everything at Hamilton. This proposal has been kept wonderfully dark until the recent meeting cf conveners, and certainly comes a& a complete surprise, to the the N Z. Co-operative Dairy Co. in the Thames Valley end of the world. In view l of the importance to the Hauraki Plains and adjoining areas of this far-reaching proposal, anl alsd because of the peculiar manner in which this bombshell has. been engineered, the following queried may b e in order : Why was not such an im-. portant proposal made public at the annual meeting df suppliers, both in Hamilton and Paeroa ? Why has our local director on the board not let the cat out of the bag before this iin a matter which concerns eveyy one of his fellow-suppliers ? The election of a director for the ward was due recently, and a little confidence in hi& electors would have be,en only fair. Did not the N.Z. Co-operative Dairy Co. make a binding promise at the time of the amalgamation of the Thames Valley Dairy Company with the N.Z. Co-operative Dairy Colmpany that this, large and very important district would retain its. administrative headquarters, at Paeroa ? How was it that when the recent meeting of conveners was called in Paeroa to decide to abolish our district office the districts of Morrinsville and Waihou, which were favourable to moving everything to Hamilton, were fully represented, while, thei larger area, of the lower Thames. Valley, which is •unfavourable to this new plot, was badly represented through in some "unaccountable” way not receiving notices in time ? It has been stated that the main reason for dragging everything and everybody (on dairy business) to Hamilton/is that thereby a s.aving of some £7OO a year-to the company will be made, and which is very much bp' en to question. Perhaps, one less on the big staff in Hamilton might “siave” this vital amount. A few cither economies might be made, also starting at Hamilton, such as, expensive supreme Court actions,’ which cost s®.vera>' thousands of the suppliers’ hard-earn-ed money last season, I suggest that if any offices are to be abolished let it bq the connection cf the Thames Valley district with Hamilton—the Thames Valley can get along better to-day under its own control. This district has not been responsible for the cry of “White Elephants and Disasters,” which the Hamilton district fostered, such as the dried milk factories,' inducing, supplie: & to join bacon companies (and hen expect them to pay the directors’ losses also), Supreme Court slander actions, qtc. I trust, therefore, that out local conveners, and directors will at once call general meetings of in all the Thames Val’ey districts to give this latest Hamilton “steal” the treatment it deserves. Further, this hole-in-the-corner business and star-cham-ber methods of our Hamilton Kings is getting past our. long-suffering local endurance. W. D. KEYS.