PROXY VOTING IN CO-OPERATIVE DAIRY FACTORY COMPANIES.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXIX, Issue 136, 1 August 1911, Page 6

PROXY VOTING IN CO-OPERA-TIVE DAIRY FACTORY COMPANIES.

(To the Editor, “Stratford Post.”) Sir,—The abolition of the above pernicious system of voting, which obtains at the Midhirst Co-operative Dairy Co., is at the present time stirring the minds of a good many shareholders, and with very good cause. One gentleman, a shareholder, gave notice of motion for the discontinuance of proxy voting some considerable time before

the annual .meeting last Monday—the subject had been well talked over in the meantime—and the majority were

agreed that the system must go, but what, do wo find at the eleventh hour? Tho chairman of the factory went .to a local lawyer (so i am iulormod.) and inquired (I presume) as to whether the motion was in order, and at tho

meeting sprung a sin prise on everyone by reading this lawyer’s letter, which said that one of the Articles of Association—which of course had reference to proxy' voting—would have to be rescinded before we could put another in its place. Now, coxlsidoi ing our worthy chairman has been in the position for seven years, it is liai'il to realise that lie did not know enough about company law to have advised the mover of the motion the proper way to go about the business in order to carry this very necessary reform. Tho evils of proxy voting are very well known, and a man can lie carried in at every election, by tiie aid of the other directors. I am informed that the chairman said at tlio mooting that he had never made use of proxies. If this is true then very many of us arc under a misapprehension. Then, again, another reform is required: That is “one man one vote.” Of course this can never bo carried until proxy voting is abolished. The chairman’s views on this question are, to say the least, somewhat peculiar. He said, if correctly reported, why should a man with one cow have equal voting power with a man who has a hundred, and also ho thought the system unjust. Surely the example lie quoted is unjust. Howmany men are there running to the factory' with tho produce of one cow? The average number of cows, I should say, kept by' most shareholders would he perhaps about twenty to thirty', and their interests for the good of tho factory' is perhaps of more vital importance to them than the man with a hundred. For instance, I will quote the franchise adopted by the Government of this country'; Every man lias an equal voting power in electing a representative. It seems to me there is nothing democratic about Mr Brown’s views, rather would Ids voice not be better raised for capital against labour? The system of “one man one vote,” I am told, obtains at two of the oldest factories in Taranaki, viz., Stratford and Ngaire. On the chairman being informed of this lie is reported to have answered “Two wrongs don’t make one right.” What colossal wisdom was displayed in this answer! Take notice, you directors of Stratford and Ngaire, and find out your mistake ere it is too late. Apologising, Mr Editor, for the length of tins letter, I am, etc., A.H.R. Mid hirst, July 7 27th, 1911.