BANANA MARKETING

Evening Post, Volume CXXVI, Issue 101, 26 October 1938, Page 7

BANANA MARKETING

INTERVIEW REPUDIATED

SUPPLIED BY SECRETARY

(By Telegraph—Press Association.')

CHRISTCHURCH, October 25,

A statement published in the "Press" this morning and telegraphed as a Press Association message, purporting to be the expressed opinions of Mr. W. J. Masson on the marketing of bananas, was not in fact made by Mr. Masson. The interview was repudiated today by Mr. Masson, who sent the following telegram to Mr. F. R. Picot, Director of Internal Marketing:— "I entirely repudiate the interview attributed to me in the 'Press' of October 25, and am asking the newspapers to publish a disclaimer. I have never | communicated with the 'Press' directly or indirectly. I have always appreciated your efforts and the Government | scheme." | The statement referred to was supi plied to the "Press" by Mr. C. H. j Capes, secretary of the Canterbury I Fruit Buyers' Association, of the executive of which body Mr. Masson .is_a member. Mr. Capes informed the representative of the "Press," to whom he supplied the statement, that his executive had given general authority to \ him to supply statements to the Press, and that it was customary for him to give statements in this way, using the name of a member of the executive. j The reporter was under the impression [that Mr. Masson was aware of the interview and that he had approved it. ! The opinions were, as Mr. Masson has made clear, not his personal views, and for this reason has taken exception to the use of his name.