NAMES NOT MADE PUBLIC

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22437, 25 June 1938, Page 16

NAMES NOT MADE PUBLIC

PERSONNEL OF A DEPUTATION MINISTER REFUSES REQUEST [THE PRESS Special Service.] AUCKLAND, June 24. “I can only class the Minister’s reply as puerile,” said Mr I. J. Goldstine, the chairman, at a meeting of the Auckland Metropolitan Milk Council, referring to a letter from the Minister for Internal Affairs, the Hon. W. E. Parry, in answer to a request from the council to supply the names of members of a deputation which had waited on him in Auckland on June 4 complaining that dairy farmers intended to increase the price of milk and that the Milk Council would pass on the additional cost to the consumers. In a letter received at the meeting, the Minister explained that he was unable to give the names of those composing the deputation as he had not their authority to do so. He added that this attitude was not unusual in dealing with deputations to members of the Government. “I am frankly sorry that the Minister has not seen fit to take us into his confidence,” said Mr Goldstine. “I do not agree with him when he says it is not unusual to suppress names of deputations when they are concerned with matters of public interest. Not only is the local authority implicated, as is the Milk Council in this case, but the public generally have a right to know who are making such representations,” “I would considerably like to have the names of the* deputation,” said Mr N. V. Douglas, “because it has been suggested that I was responsible for it. I wish to give that statement the lie direct now.” “If it were known who composed the deputation we should probably treat it as a joke,” added Mr Goldstine. “We should possibly find that it was a large deputation of three, self-appointed.” . , x .. A resolution was carried that the Minister be informed that the council was disappointed with his reply for two reasons—the first being that it was unusual to suppress the names of deputations to Ministers on matters of public interest, and the second that the council as the local authority charged with toe control- of milk prices had not been given an opportunity to present its account of the situation.