Annat man head of Federated Farmers

Press, 20 July 1977, Page 3

Annat man head of Federated Farmers

From D. L. Fyfe in Wellington

The leadership of Federated Farmers has returned to Canterbury. Mr A. F. Wright, of Annat in central Canterbury, was ithe only nomination for the post of president at the annual conference of the federation in Wellington dayi He succeeds Mr J. 7. Kneebone, of Tirau, who has held the post for the last three years. Before that, the president was another Cani terbury man, Sir William ! Dunlop. I Mr Wright told the conference that farmers were a part of a team with other sectors of the community. While they were the source of 80 per cent of the country’s export income and were proud of that, it had to be realised that the rest of the community was involved in the processing and handling of farm products to the market.

Mr Wright, who is 48, : s senior vice-chairman of the Dominion agriculture section of the federation, and has held several posts in the federation at both provincial and national level. In the last three years, while Dominion senior vicepresident, he has been involved in approaches to theGovernment for financial support for farming, and in transport and accident compensation matters. He has travelled widely overseas, broadening his understanding of the world agricultural scene. The federation will have a new general secretary and chief executive from September 1. Fie is Mr R. D. McLagan, who has been on the staff of the federation since 1965.

Mr McLagan, who is 37, obtained a B.A. degree at the University of Canterbury, and after attending Teachers’ College spent two years teaching in Palmerston North.

Since 1971. he has been executive officer of the meat and wool produce section of the federation.

Mr McLagan succeeds Mr R. B. McLuskie, who has been with the federation for almost 13 years, including 11 years as legal adviser. He has resigned, and will conduct a legislation scrutiny service for a number of organisations.