SOME OPPOSITION

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

SOME OPPOSITION

PURCHASE OF BUILDINGS TURUA BOARDINGHOUSE PLAINS DAIRY CO’S. DECISION Some opposition to the action of the directors in purchasing the old boardinghouse at Turua by the Hauraki Plains Co-operative Dairy Company, Limited, was expressed at the annual meeting held at Turua on Thursday. Mr J. Mules raised, the question, stating that the boardinghouse, which the chairman, Mr H. H. Hicks, had stated was to .be used to house members of the factory staff, was not fit for habitation. The building was full of -borer' and really only just a wreck and one had to be careful where one walked as the floor was gone. He questioned the wisdom of the purchase.

Mr W. Taylor said that he had lived in the district for over 50 years ■and the boardinghouse had been standing all that time. He had been astounded when he had heard the directors had purchased the building as in his opinion it was not fit for the job for which it had been bought.

Bought In An Emergency

Mr Hicks, said the building was bought in an emergency when the question of accommodation of extra staff was serious. In reply to Mr Taylor he pointed out that the building was being used, by a body of men and to date he had not heard of an accident.

In his opinion he did not think the shareholders would lose by the purchase.

'Mr Mules questioned the wisdom of men at present using the building from a health point of view. Mr C. K. Fox speaking in support of the purchase, explained that the boardinghouse had been purchased in an emergency. No other accommodation had been available to house the extra staff and the directors were at their wits end to know what ,to do. Mr Taylor asked if it was not a fact that the building had been condemned by the health inspector prior to the company buying same. Mr J. A. Stewart stated that he had inspected: the building before it was purchased. The directors had been warned that they might be required to provide storage space for crates, etc. A building could not be erected for . the price paid for the boardinghouse. r Price Paid £l2O

Mr G. Grey asked if the directors had considered the cost of pulling the building down. He asked for the the price -paid for the building. Mr Hicks stated that , the building had cost £l2o* and the land £5O. In his opinion this price could be realised for the property after the emergency was over. Mr 'Taylor pointed out that the directors had allowed the section to be sold then bought the building and then had to buy the section. Mr Hicks explained that the whole matter had been a difficult problem as if the section had been purchased and then the building, had been run up too high it would have been a difficult postion. If the meeting desired, suggested Mr Hicks, they could direct the directors to sell the property as soon as possible after the present tenants vacated it.

This proposal was duly approved by the meeting.