MEAT BOARD POLITICS: MR COCKRURN REPLIES

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29380, 6 December 1960, Page 22

MEAT BOARD POLITICS: MR COCKRURN REPLIES

There are “several misleading and unsound statements” in the recent series of articles on “Meat Board Politics,” by the commercial editor of “The Press.” according to Mr D. H. Cockburn, of Invercargill. In the first article—-“ Board Member’s Defeat: Win for Co-operatives?”—some comment was made on Mr Cockburn’s defeat of Mr C. J. Speight in an election for the New Zealand Meat Producers’ Board. Mr Cockburn, in a letter to our commercial editor, says: "With regard to the alleged stranglehold over the electoral college and the Meat Board, I feel bound to make some comment.

“Your article makes it clear that Mr J. C. Speight, or someone on his behalf, is going to some length to cast discredit on the electoral college and to substantiate a contention that he was wrongfully removed from the Meat Board. To my knowledge, no organised action whatever was practised, and further, how ridiculous it is to suggest that any flve individuals could dominate the vote or put any stranglehold on the other 20 members of the college. "Participants in elections do not resort to such tactics as Mr Speight is stooping to. It is regrettable that such a very definite attempt is being made by a defeated member, to discredit a reputable system and all associated with the electing of producer members to our New Zealand Meat Board.

“The evidence purporting to support Mr Speight’s charges, may as suggested there, be examined. Neither can any case be proven incriminating the college or my good name. It has, in the latter article, been implied that I am practically a representative of. or the tool of, the meat co-operatives. This is absolutely and completely untrue. “Although by pure chance I was on this occasion nominated by two sheep-farmers who are directors of a meat co-operative, I am a completely unfettered, elected board member and free to take any action on any subject calculated to be in the best interests of the meat industry. “Among the approximately 40.000 New Zealand sheepfarmers, there are many thousands who support meat co-operatives. Is is therefore a crime to be nominated by two and supported by others? It has also to be remembered that I obviously, was supported by at least twice the number of voters who were not members of co-operatives. “To sum up, one is forced to the conclusion that this outburst is most undemocratic and certainly a very regrettable happening,” Mr Cockbum says.