Judicial Inquiry To Be Sought

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30847, 4 September 1965, Page 21

Judicial Inquiry To Be Sought

A judicial inquiry will be sought by the chairman of the Apple and Pear Marketing Board (Mr K. B. Longmore) into the action of the national conference of the New Zealand Fruitgrowers’ Federation, Ltd., in passing a vote of confidence in the board while suporting federation directors in their vote of no confidence in him.

In a statement made at the final session of the conference Mr Longmore said that on his return to Wellington he would ask the Minister of Agriculture (Mr Taiboys) to arrange for the inquiry in public.

“Delegates are now aware that my actions and decisions in March last have been justified in the light of later events, and the board is in a much better position as a result. Had this been accepted when the knowledge became available this remit would not have come before you, and there would have been no later and injurious publicity,” Mr Longmore said. “You have supported the directors in their approach to the Government but, in spite

of knowing now that I was in the right, the directors have not voluntarily told the Government that their vote of no confidence was unjustified. “The conference has unanimously passed a vote of confidence in the board, while at the same time it has supported the directors in their vote of no confidence in its chairman. This is plainly inconsistent and the public, to which the industry owes a great deal, will want an explanation in words all can understand. “On my return to Wellington I will ask the Minister to arrange for a judicial inquiry in public at which evidence can be given on oath and, if necessary, witness can be subpoenaed,” Mr Longmore said.