Cash-strapped livestock farmers have, for a second time, vented their anger at the perilous state of their industry by unseating the chairman of a meat company.
In an election result that caught many by surprise, PPCS chairman and 22-year industry veteran Reese Hart yesterday joined Alliance Group's former chairman, John Turner, in being voted off the board by shareholders.
Chairman of the Dunedin-based co-operative for two years and a board member for 20, Mr Hart was acknowledged by farming leaders for initiating change to the structure of the financially troubled meat industry, including changes to the way PPCS procures stock and an unsuccessful approach to Alliance to merge.
Mr Hart was philosophical about the result, saying while farmers were hurting from low lamb prices, he had concentrated on making structural changes to the industry in a bid to improve those prices.
Meat and Wool New Zealand chairman Mike Petersen said that while ultimately shareholders said who led their companies, he was concerned at the loss of experience and leadership.
Mr Turner, who was unseated in December, was chairman of Alliance for 10 years and a board member for another 10.