STATEMENT AND CHALLENGE

Te Aroha News, Volume XXXIV, Issue 5481, 30 April 1917, Page 2

STATEMENT AND CHALLENGE

(To the Editor) Sir, —Kindly grant me space in your esteemed paper to deny some allegations that have lately come under my notice. I have been informed by very reliable authority that at a meeting at Matamata a few days ago, a member the committee of the local branch |of the New Zealand Dairy Association, at Manawaru, informed his principal, Mr H. E. Pacey, managing director of that association, that as the manager of the opposition company at Manawaru had been drawn ( by ballot to serve his country the ser vices of the Association manager at Manawaru had been secured and he was going over to manage the opposition company’s business, when its present manager was called away. This statement to me is as absurd as it is groundless, or, to place it the reverse way, is as groundless as it is absurd. At the same time it is only similar to other “ wild ” rumours concerning the working of our company, that, as far as I can gather, have had their origination from a similar source. Whatever the motive for such a statement I fail to understand. Whether or not it was a deliberate attempt to be-little his own manager or our directors iu the eyes of his principals I fail to imagine. Why our company shoulc be referred to as the “ opposition company " I also fail to understand, as it iB not our aim to run opposition to any company, but our directors are out to run clean a purely local co-operative dairy company. Our motto is to play the game on ifc-s merits and above the table ; to manufacture the best article possible ; to sell on the best market offering ; and to return te shareholders the best possible net price per lb. for butterfat. We have no “ favorites ” or, on the other hand, 'no “ black sheep ” among our “ flock,” but every shareholder stands on a equal Jfooting and is paid in proportion to his butter-fat supplied. Now, Mr Editor, the individual (who is well known in this locality), who remarked that we were getting away with their manager, I challenge him to come forward and prove his statement. Providing he proves it, I will willingly donate £2O to the local Red Cross Society, and will also appeal to this person, if he has a particle of patriotic sentiment within him, to do his utmost, and thus swell the funds of the local Red Cross Society to the above amount. Failing to do so, I think the only alternative would be to tender an apology to his own manager, and also to the directors of the so-called opposition company. It is true our manager, Mr K. McKenzie, has been called by ballot for military service, but being connected with what is now a very essential industry , it is the intention of the directors of the company to appeal for exemption i on his behalf. Regretting, Mr Editor, finding it necessary to trespass on your valuable space and thanking you . in anticipation. I am, etc., i F. W. How-mid, . Chairman Manawaru Dafry Co ! - April 26, 1917 --■ '