MEAT EXPORT BOARD

STOCK AND STATION AGENTS' NOMINEE ■

Under, the provisions of the Meat Export Control Act tie ijody known as the New Zealand Meat Producers' Board shall consist of two Government appointees and five persons to", be appointed by the Governor-General as representatives of producers, and elected by; them for; the carrying ' out of the provisions of-.the Act. The Act. also provided, 'that, ,in: addition to .these members, '.'the Governor-General may appoint as member a.representative of persons lor the time being engaged as, stock and station agents.". The two and the five have been-approved and appointed; the eighth' member—-the representative of the stockj and station agents—is not yet appointed. But he has been selected,: it is understood. This was done, by reference; of the. matter to.the. fourteen itock and station agents' local associations in, New ,Zealand, and a.ballot being taken. Three names were submitted by the local associations, of • which thirteen voted. For one nominee there was one vote, for another two votes, and for the third ten votes. The name of the gentleman to' whom ten votes of' local associations was given ' was forwarded 'to the. Minister of Agriculture (the Hon. 'W. I Nosworthy)]; but, it is understood, its bearer is not acceptable to the Government. The Minister is absent from Wellington; go too is the .Prime Minister. The gentleman whoie name has been ■mentioned as having received the great majority of votes is head of a well-known stock and station firm with interests mainly in-the Wei-' lington, and' 1 Southland districts.

A reading of the Act makes it quite clear that, while the appointment of the Government and producers' nominees of the Meat Producers' Board, is mandatory, that of the slock and station .agents is optional. |' Therefore ,■ the Gover'n;nent may appoint nobody to represent stock and station agents. ■,",,' In default of an official explanation of the attitude of the Government, surprise is.expressed in local financial arid commercial circles at. its hesitating to accept the nomination 1 of the gentleman above referred to. , iHe had already served on /a very, important Government Board, and'..was| believed to enjoy the ■fullest confidence of the Government, "as, according, to'the vote taken, he would seem to possess that of the' stock aha station agents' local associations of New Zealand; ', ; .-..;. ••: ; ■ .-, • ; -. ;. ■;