LIVELY MEETING.

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 223, 20 September 1929, Page 8

LIVELY MEETING.

OPOTIKI DAIRY COMPANY.

A PERSISTENT QUESTIONER,

RETIRING DIRECTORS RE-ELECTED

(From Our Own Correspondent.)

OPOTIKI, this day.

The annual meeting of the Opotiki Dairy Association, held in the Regent Theatre to-day, was very long .and very lively, and often there were several speakers trying to make themselves heard at once.

After the secretary had read the minutes of the last annual meeting, Mr. A. Martin rose and objected to his name being associated with the objections to a joint and several guarantee. He said that at no time did he say any suoh thing. The chairman, Mr. W. J. Connor, said that as far as he wa.s concerned the minutes were a correct record. After ilr. Martin had asked that his objection be noted, the minutes were confirmed.

In presenting the annual report and balance-sheet, the chairman said shareholders co-uld congratulate themselves on the past season, which Jiad resulted in an increased payout, of 5-8 d per pound of butterfat. The company was going ahead and lie did not think it had

yet reached the peak of production. There had been a general improvement of herds, through topdressing, and they could look forward to a greater increase through 'herd-testing. Opotiki had lagged behind in this, but now it was beginning to catch up. In the coming season there would be three groups, with 72 herds, with a total of 4000 cows. There was still room for improvement, as approximately 15,000 cows were supplying the factory. Question of Quality. After the chairman's motion that the report and balance-sheet be adopted had been seconded, Mr. Martin asked what was the average grading of Opotiki butter. After the chairman supplied the figures, Mr. Martin said he could prove the average grade had gone down in the last two years. The chairman stated that wherever Opotiki butter was sold there had been nothing but praise for the high quality. Eighty-one per cent of the butter was graded superfine, and only one churning was second grade during the year.

A wordy argument tlien ensued between Mr."Martin and t'he chairman, the latter pointing out that Opotiki stood nineteenth out of 05 brands.

Mr. S. McMillan asked if any Opotik: butter had been returned from Auckland.

The manager, in reply, said one lot had been returned, but this was only because of open moisture. When the chairman was replying to a question by Mr. J. Parkinson, the latter asked the chairman to refrain from shouting at him. Mr. Parkinson alleged that the deodoriser, which was purchased for £1200, was useless. The chairman contradicted the statement, and said it was a success. Mr. Martin asked a question about the company's car, and was interrupted 'by Mr. M. Harrison, who objected to the way in which Mr. Martin was taking up the time of the meeting. He said he wanted to get home to milk his cows. Mr. Martin said the balance-sheet conveyed nothing to him. After he 'had made further remarks, the chairman called upon him to sit down, and finally he did so, amid great uproar. Later Mr. Martin raised a question about sundry debtors and wanted to know if they would pay twenty shillings in the pound. The chairman said he believed the debts would be paid in full. Mr. Martin asked why there were several thousand pounds in outstanding Cheques. The secretary explained the position. Mr. W. Harris rose to a point of order when further questions were, asked, end said they did not deal with the balance-sheet.

The chairman said any complaints should not be kept for the annual meeting, 'but should be placed before the directors. Directors' Motor Car. Mr. Martin asked why the directors had gone in for an expensive motor car. The chairman defended this action and said he believed the long use the car would give would justify its purchase. After further uproar the annual report and balance-sheet were adopted unanimously. A poll to fill two vacancies on the directorate resulted in the retiring directors (Messrs. W. Connor and W. N. Rowe) 'being re-elected. Mr. J. J. Moody was unsuccessful. Messrs. Pearson and Hamill were reappointed auditors. Mr. Martin proposed that it be a recommendation to the directors that Mr. Sinclair, the manager and secretary, be relieved of his duties as secretary. He contended the company was taking a big risk in having one man with so many duties. The manager should give his whole attention to raising the quality of the butter. The chairman warmly praised the work of Mr. Sinclair and said- 'he had given every satisfaction during the thirteen years he had occupied the dual position. Shareholders should <be well satisfied.

In replying to criticism, Mr. Martin said he would defy anyone to say the deodoriser had done any good.^ The chairman put the motion to the meeting, which rejected it. Mr. Martin then asked that the matter bo decided by a poll of shareholders, when, he said, a true indication of the opinions of all the shareholders would

be given. Mr. D. Irwin moved that the directors go into the question of cream carting, and the meeting concluded with votes of thanks to the directors, secretary and staff.