IN COMMITTEE

Press, Volume LXXIX, Issue 23915, 6 April 1943, Page 6

IN COMMITTEE

Sir —The prominence that has been given to the secrecy of the Education Board' has served a useful purpose in drawing attention to the secrecy of other public bodies, notably the Primary Production Council. If there was ever a case where wide publicity was necessary it is in connexion with the deliberations of this eounfi 1 . and it is astonishing that some of the strong members do not bring about a change. Producers are about fed up with the council, which they have come to regard as a secret society. If the support of farmers is to be secured in drive for greater production the widest publicity is necessary. At present it would appear that members are pnjy wasting their time attending meetings, -Yours, etc., PRO DUCER. April 1, 1943.

[The chairman of the North Canterbury District Council of Primary Pro-: duction (Mr E. T. McMillan) said last evening that the council had been instructed by the parent body in Wellington, the National Council of Primary Production, and the Minister in charge (the Hon. J. G. Barclay) to take its business in committee. The council, on the other hand, had endeavoured to give the press the opportunity of reporting as much as possible of the other business. The council’s hands were tied to a certain extent in regard to confidential matters.]