“I AM OFF!”

Gisborne Times, Volume LXVII, Issue 10595, 25 May 1928, Page 5

“I AM OFF!”

• LIVELY SCENE AT DA.IR-Y BOARD MEETING MR GOODFELLOW’S RESIGNATION OBJECTS TcTcHAIRMAN’S VIEW OF MONTHLY REVIEW (Rreaa Association., WELLINGTON, May 24. The, Dairy Produce Exporter contains a full account of the scene- at the Dairy Board meeting, j which culminated! in Mr, W. Goodfellow’s resignation. _ • " ' . . The chairman, Mx W.. Grounds, maintained liis right to express his view in his monthly review, arid had done so on the, export license question. Mr Hine said the board rendered itself absolutely impotent through the action at the last meeting, and destroyed what prestige it had. Responsibility could not be thrown on the Minister.

Mr Goodfellow asked if the chairman’s review was subject to revision.

The chairman said it. was not, and never had been. , .Mr Goodfellow described- the action of the chairman -as grossly insulting. Mr Grounds said his- review was not insulting or unfair, but’ represented -the position. He refused to accept Mr Goodfellow‘s proposal that the hoard should O.K. the review. He would not take Mr Goodfellow’s request for a ruling on the question.

M!r Gioodfellow said: “I am not going to be subject to this dirty rubbish.” Afte'r further talk, he said: “You will accept my resignation, gentlemen, please. Go'od-bye, .gentlemen, I am off” and loft the room.

The chairman said he felt:, quite satisfied in his attitude.. ■

“AN UTTER FARCE,” BOARD NOW REPRESENTS SECTIONAL INTERESTS. LIMITATION IN NUMBER AND POWER -SUGGESTED. MR. GOODFELLOW’S FRANK CRITICISM. (Special To The Times). AUCKLAND, May 24. Mr. W. Goodfellow, while not yet making a detailed statement regarding his resignation from the Dairy Produce Board, said his position on the hoard during the last few months had been almost intolerable, and that had it not been for the fact that lie had felt it liis duty as a representative of a large number of co-operative companies to protect their interests, he certainly would , have resigned some time since. The board as at present constituted represented sectional interests, wasted a great deal of time, and was in short, an utter farce. If it was to do anything worth while it must he reorganised to suit the altered conditions. It had failed lieyond recovery- in its-big objective, and should now be reduced to a maximum of six producer members, say four from the North Island and two from the South Island, and theiir power should he confined to to the following matters: Shipping contracts, marine insurance contracts, advertising overseas, market reports from London, and the dissemination of-nows and authoritative-information and matter of educational value, etc., and the supervision of cold storage in New Zealand, in transit and in Great Britain.

Indicating that- the step he had taken expressed the feeling of the majority of the board members, Air. Goodfellow said he did not know what action would now he taken. The board had power under the Act to appoint someone to fill a vacancy. His term had still two years.to run. There would be no meeting of the board until July 11, and this would he the annual meeting at which the chairman would be elected.