Local farmer challenges Board vote system

Ruapehu Bulletin, 22 June 1993, Page 5

Local farmer challenges Board vote system

Local Waimarino farmer John McCarthy is one of two candidates in the upcoming meat and wood board electoral committee elections for the Wanganui District. John, along with James Aitken, the electoral committee member for central Hawke's Bay, is at the forefront of a national campaign to change the present electoral system. The group who are standing on what is being described as 'a plat-

form for change' are contesting 18 out of the 25 seats on the electoral committee. • The broad aims of this group are said to be to replace the electoral committee with a direct election system on a ward basis. • To increase board accountability to levy payers. There are several reasons behind 'the platform for change', said Mr McCarthy. "This system has re-

mained virtually unchanged since its inception in 1923. In those days it was relevant given the poor communication network in rural areas. "This situation no longer applies. The vast majority of meat and wool board directors come from either the electoral committee or from the hierarchy of Federated Farmers. There appears to be a very real tendency to elect people

the committee knows and feels comfortable with rather than someone with a good track record but outside these two groups. "After the recent wool marketing debacle only one director has failed to be re-elected. This suggests that the electoral committee is happy to make the hard decisions. "Between the meat and wool boards approximately $90 million is collected annually by compulsory levy. Farmers have no direct say in how or why this money is spent. We are in effect compulsory company share-holders receiving no measurable dividend and having no vote for company directors. "The average farmer pays $3,000 in levies and there was a profit of $7,280 (meat and wool board stats 1992) for every 18 bales of wool, one goes to the board and the farmer has paid all the costs associated with harvesting that wool. "At present there is no external auditing of either board's performance, 4ior are there

strategic business plans available for the levy payer to see. Most farmers are responsible for administering an investment of between $500,000 and $2,000,000. This does not imply stupidity or a lack of judgement. It is insulting to suppose that they are not capable of electing and holding accountable their own directors." At present there are no producer/grower elected meat and wool board directors between Christchurch and Hamilton. "In fact four of the current Meat Board Directors are from the Canterbury Region. This is not I believe a healthy situation," said Mr McCarthy. It is the opinion of the 'platform for change' candidates that a ward system would encourage potential directors of very high ability to make themselves available and that ultimately farmers themselves are the best judges of the type of person suitable to be a director on their boards. The voting papers

will be posted on 23 June. Any farmer who does not receive them should contact John on 385-9235.

"It is vital that we vote. It is time that we as the compulsory levy payers, take control of our industries."