Mr. Soyka's Threat to Directors of Court Action "It is ike a Chinese baby's trousers; it covers everything which does not matter, but leaves uncovered all the important things", declared Mr. L, Soyka, speaking about the balance sheet of the Bute Plantations, Ltd, at the 23rd annual general meet~ ing of the company, held on Tuesday, Mar. 24, at 20 Canton Road.
Mr. Soyka asked various questions relating to the balance sheet, and When he was told the balance sheet already had been passed, he referred fo the meeting as "irregular." "We are here in Shanghai under British jurisdiction", he declared, "and I protest'
Mr. Soyka attempted to ask" a number of other questions, but was met with the reply that the meeting was over, whereupon he declared that he would "go fo Court," and demanded to have the minnies of the meeting, so that his protest could be entered' in writing. This was refused.
Mr. W. Mellor, chairman, Me Martin Little, and Mr. HW. Melfeckin, directors of the company, wore present at the meeting, io addition to Mr. M, Reader Harris, legal adviser. There were 170.384 shares represented.
In his speech the chairman said:—T have to explain the Increased expenditure which, according to the accounts before you, is higher by coal 28,026.30 than the previous year, Roventin expenditure during "1934 was $,$42,240 and for the year under review $.$04,608, an increase of $$22,328, and' although 00,000 Ib. additional rubber was harvested, the cost per Ib. for 1095 is higher by 19 cents (Yd) than for 1934. Increased expenditure has been incurred under the following headings:—duly on rubber and additional cost of production, owing (o higher labour costs, accounted for $.$3,81249 and $0,000.78. respectively,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.