DIFFICULT YEAR

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume 51, Issue 3154, 7 August 1942, Page 5

DIFFICULT YEAR

PLAINS CO-OP. DAIRY CO. REVIEW BY THE CHAIRMAN ANNUAL MEETING AT TURUA The twenty-seventh annual meeting of the Hauraki Plains Co-opera-tive Dairy Company was held in the Turua 'Buildings on Thursday, the chairman, Mr H. H. Hicks presiding over some 30-odd suppliers.

The report, published elsewhere in this issue, showed that the year had •been a satisfactory one.

In moving the adoption of the report and balance sheet Mr Hicks said it had been a very difficult year and he expressed his appreciation of the co-operation given by the suppliers and staff.

The Imperial Government had appealed for more cheese and the factory had had to face a big increase in output meaning a large increase in staff. This had brought up the problem of accommodation .for these extra men.

The directors had purchased the old Turua boardinghouse, proposing to renovate same to house three families. However, the matter had been urgent so Public Works huts were secured and improvements had been carried out to make the families using them fairly comfortable. The directors had done this, considering that the huts would be used for at least two years. A starter room and equipment had to be supplied to ensure the efficient handling of the milk and this had been a costly item.

At the end of the season milk vendors in Auckland had approached the company for a supply of milk. They

had sought a supply from Turua because of the good quality product svnnlied in nreviovs years. The price paid for the milk had been an excellent one.

■The company had had to face considerable expense in renovations, blacking-out the factory and increases in wages.

Another problem was that supplies had been purchased in the anticipation of a continuation of the demand for cheese.

Prior to the election of officers some of the shareholders expressed dissatisfaction with the action of the directors in dispensing with the services of the former secretary, Mr J. E. Green.

The directors explained that it had been a question of salary but shareholders stated they considered a compromise should have been made. Messrs H. Allen, E. B. Hill, C. K. Fox, W. J. Bell and H. H. Hicks were nominated for the directorate. A ballot was taken and Messrs W. J. Bell, H. Allen and E. B. Hill were elected. H. Battley was re-elected auditor for the coming year.

MR STEWART CHAIRMAN

MR BELL DEPUTY-CHAIRMAN

At a subsequent meeting of the directors Mr J. A. .Stewart was elected chairman and Mr W. J. Bell deputychairman.