4

COMPANIES CONCERNED IN THE INVESTIGATION 4. There were 262 co-operative dairy companies engaged in butter, cheese, dried-milk, and other dairy-produce manufacturing activities as at the date of this report, situated as follows : —- Number. North Auckland .. .. .. .. .. 16 South Auckland and Gisborne .. .. .. .. 32 Taranaki .. .. .. .. .. .. 63 Wellington and Hawkes Bay Provinces, Blenheim, and Nelson .. 75 Canterbury and West Coast .. .. .. .. 20 Otago .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 15 Southland .. .. .. .. .. .. 41 Total .. .. .. .. .. ..262 PUBLICITY 5. The appointment and the purpose of the Committee were publicized by press statements released through the Press Association, articles in the Journal of Agriculture and the New Zealand Dairy Exporter, and by statements broadcast during the farmers' sessions over the National Broadcasting Stations. In these statements and articles submissions and suggestions were invited from all dairy companies as well as from any individual person interested. THE OBTAINING OF STATISTICAL INFORMATION AND COMMENTS FROM INDIVIDUAL COMPANIES 6. As it was apparent that it would be necessary to ascertain the extent of the dry shares in the industry and that an early opportunity should be taken to obtain the preliminary individual views of all dairy companies on that problem and of difficulties resulting from their respective Articles of Association, a circular letter in the form set out in Appendix I was despatched by the Chairman of the New Zealand Dairy Board on the 15th March, 1948, to all dairy companies operating in New Zealand seeking principally a return of dry and wet shares of each company, a copy of its Articles of Association, and generally for such comments and suggestions upon the problems of dry shareholding and Articles of Association as those companies might think fit to make. It was stressed in that circular that all such information, comments, and suggestions would be treated in the strictest confidence. The reason for the despatch of the circular by the Chairman of the Dairy Board was not only to identify that Board, as representing the whole of the dairy industry, with the inquiry, but with the desire to obtain the fullest information and the frankest of comment on the problems now before the Committee. 7. As a result of the above circular much information was received, together with worth-while suggestions and recommendations. The Committee decided to summarize the principal suggestions and recommendations and to submit them to all companies by circular letter so that the reaction of the industry might be obtained and that it might be informed in more detail of the problem involved in the investigation. Copy of that circular letter dated the 21st May, 1948, from the Chairman is set out in Appendix 11. As a result of this circular additional information and suggestions were received.