§ Sir H. Morris-Jonesasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food if he can make a statement on the results of the extraordinary general meeting of the Soft Drinks Industry War Time Association, on Thursday, 24th June; and, in particular, whether the Minister's voting power was used?
§ Mr. MabaneAt the extraordinary general meeting of the Soft Drinks Industry (War Time) Association Ltd., which was held on 24th June a vote was taken, each trade member having one vote, on six resolutions and eight amendments. With two exceptions all of these motions were determined by a show of hands, in none of which did the Minister's representative vote. One of these motions dealt with the question of an independent chairman. The meeting decided to continue the present arrangement by which a committee of the Association appoint a chairman from among its own members. In two cases a poll was demanded. The first of these rejected by 672 votes to 206 an amendment to the scheme which, if adopted, would have required that the members of the committee should in future be elected on the basis of "one firm one vote." A poll was also taken for the resolution accepting the scheme for the reconstitution of the committee which1640W had been approved by my Noble Friend. The result of the poll was that 663 trade members voted in favour of the scheme and 123 against. The representative of the Minister voted only in the case of the two motions for which a poll was taken. In each case he voted with the majority but his votes are not included in the figures I have given.