Chairman’s farewell visit

Press, Issue 33836, 7 May 1975, Page 20

Chairman’s farewell visit

The man who guided the Consumer Council through its first 15 years, Mr G. E. F. Wood, will resign as chairman at the end of next month.

Mr Wood, one of the country’s foremost public servants for many years, was elected the first chairman of the Consumer Council in 1959, and has consistently been re-elected since. He is on a farewell visit to district committees before retiring from public duties. His career in a host of positions spans 57 years, and includes 12 years as Government Statistician.

Mr Wood said in Christchurch yesterday that he thought the Consumer Council had grown greatly in stature since its humble beginnings. It had often been the target of strong criticism

from manufacturing organisations in New’ Zealand, but it had won wide respect and some admiration from its most ardent critics.

The impartial and incorruptible approach of the council to its work had essentially been the basis for its success.

By the end of its first year, the Consumers’ Institute, whose policies are laid down by the council, had attracted 1772 members, and by the end of last year the membership was 129,000.

Mr Wood said that he looked forward to seeing a membership of 250,000. and (was confident this would be reached if the institute continued on its course of proI tecting and promoting the (interests of consumers.

Mr Wood said nobody had lever tried to “buy” the organisation or muzzle it, although one firm had taken it to court after the publicaition of a report about an

electric heater. The institute’s monthly magazine, “Consumer,” described the heater as positively dangerous.

“The case ended in an honourable draw,” said Mr Wood. "Consumer” also startled the public about 10 years ago by describing all rotary mowers as dangerous. It was not long before the manufacturers were producing models which “Consumer” w’as able to commend.

“We had been in touch ( with the American Safety Association, which had produced plans for a safe rotary mower, and local manufacturers were quick to implement these, and in one case actually improve on them.” Mr Wood said that the institute had plans to tviden its activities. One project was a booklet for the guidance of home handy men; .another was a study of farm I requisites.