William Bell, the first Chairperson of the Tamaki Co-operative Dairy Company. 

An immigrant from, Ireland, William Bell initially worked on the railways in the Manawatu area. While there, he took a keen interest in bettering the lot of railway workers. In 1906 he bought a farm in the Te Rehunga District. There his interest in the welfare of railway workers translated into an interest in farmers.

He was one of the first to recognise the benefits of the co-operative movement and pushed for the establishment of a co-operative dairy company in the district. The result was the formation of the Tamaki Co-operative Dairy Company on 31 March 1909. William Bell held the position of Chairman of the Board of Directors from the establishment of the Company until 26 April 1917 when he resigned from the position.

He was a director on the Kiritaki Co-operative Dairy Company Board, 1918-1923, a Dannevirke County councillor from c1917 into the 1930s. He was also involved in various other committees during his lifetime. He died in 1933.

This photograph was selected for publication in the 50th Jubilee booklet of the Tamaki-Kiritaki Co-operative Dairy Company.