Delegate Causes Stir At Fruit Growers’ Conference

Greymouth Evening Star, 12 August 1947, Page 7

Delegate Causes Stir At Fruit Growers’ Conference

(P.A.) WELLINGTON, This Day. Interrupted twice while trying to read a resolution he had prepared following an address by the Minister of Marketing, Mr Cullen, to the New Zealand Fruitgrowers’ Conference today, a delegate had to amend what was termed “the ridiculous phraseology” before the president would accept the motion. The motion, as Mr L. A. Robinson, of Nelson, commenced to read it began: “That we thank the Minister of Marketing for his presence here today and we congratulate him on his excellent and apparently sincere delivery.” Mr R. Evans, another Nelson delegate, objected .to the “ridiculous phraseology” of the motion. “We know Mr Cullen is sincere and I think it should be withdrawn,” he said.

Ministerial Promises Mr Robinson asked to be allowed to read his motion right through. He reached the words “apparently sincere” when he was interrupted by the president, Mr A. B. Congdon, who said he could not accept the word “apparently.” Mi* Robinson then moved to congratulate Mr Cullen on “his sincere delivery of the address. He had prepared an address absolutely typical of the numerous Ministerial addresses to farmers’ organisations.” Mr Robinson said there was nothing personal in his motion, which was addressed by a fruitgrower to the Minister of Marketing. “But various Ministers of Marketing havfe come along with smooth talk, semidefinite promises and soothing, talk about co-operation. Where is it getting us?” asked Mr Robinson. “Nash assured us more than once that he was not. taking over the industry on a guaranteed price basis, but that it was only an emergency and at the close of the war we would be able to go back to our previous system of marketing or some form of co-operative marketing. He was followed by Barclay-—not many will remember him —he got another job. Roberts promised co-operation and now Mr Cullen has come along with the same promises. Is it going to get us anywhere?” Since March a joint committee set up between the Government and the industry had sat for a total of five hours and all it had done Was to set up a costs' survey committee, an admittedly valuable step, but in two years practically no progress had been made.

Minister in Reply After the motion had been seconded, Mr Evans said Mr Robinson was speaking for himself. The matter had not been discussed with the other Nelson delegates. Mr Cullen said that Mr Robinson had referred to previous Ministers, who had all held 1 responsible positions. “They deserve a handle to their names,” he said. The joint committee had done a great deal and if-it had been done in five hours, as Mr Robinson had stated, then he hoped another five hours would complete their work. The motion was not put to tne meeting.