The Press TUESDAY, JANUARY 16, 1962. Minister And Cotton Mill

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29722, 16 January 1962, Page 10

The Press TUESDAY, JANUARY 16, 1962. Minister And Cotton Mill

Mr Marshall, the Minister of Industries and Commerce, cannot believe that he said all that needs to be said about his share and his department’s share in the Nelson cotton mill issue when he replied to a question pointing to a seeming contradiction between his present attitude and 9 statement he'made in Parliament last November. Mr Marshall was reminded that he told Parliament he had no intention of spending £ 1 million of taxpayers’ money to terminate the agreement with the cotton mill interests, and he was asked if he felt this statement and the Government’s decision to terminate the agreement affected his position in the Government. Mr Marshall replied: “No—not in the “ light of further informa- “ tion that has come to light “ as a result of the negotia- “ tions ’’. What is this further information and why did it not come to light earlier? On November 10 Mr Marshall told Parliament that in the previous December—on the National Party’s taking office after the General Election—the cotton mill company wrote to him setting out progress made and commitments undertaken, and seeking from the Government “ an “ assurance of co-operation “and good will”. “The “ Government did examine “ the agreement very

“ closely ”, said Mr Marshall, and “ the economi: “committee of Cabinet and “ the officials’ committee “ also examined the agree- “ ment in some detail, and “as a result of recom- “ mendations to Cabinet the “ Government did recognise "that there was a binding “ agreement which should “ be honoured in the “ letter and the spirit Obviously, something was missed in the “ very close ” and detailed examinations referred to.

Mr Marshall is the Minister concerned since he is now the political head of the department that made the agreement and, presumably, later examined it. It is perhaps a pity that Mr Marshall did not accept the invitation of the Mayor of Nelson to speak to a public meeting in the city. Mr Marshall could have explained, for instance, why officials of the Industries and Commerce Department who took a prominent part in negotiating the agreement under his predecessor—men such as Dr. W. B. Sutch and Mr J. P. Lewin—have not appeared in the discussions terminating the agreement. Mr Marshall will surely perceive that the public are entitled to more information if they are to retain their confidence in a department whose efficient working is vital to New Zealand’s development.