PROFESSOR CRITICISED.

Otago Witness, Issue 3768, 1 June 1926, Page 67

PROFESSOR CRITICISED.

MISTAKES OF A YOUNG MAN. Exception was taken at the last meeting of the Canterbury Industrial Association to the remarks made by Professor J. B. Coudliffe about the work of the Department of Industries and Commerce, in which he said that the Board of Agriculture now consisted only of the Minis ler of Industrie# and Commerce, whose department had degenerated into an agency for boosting secondary industries. “vVe know that Professor Coudliffe, like many other University-trained men. tries to belittle the economic worth of the Dominion’s manufacturing industries, and invariably opposes any assistance being given in the nature of a tariff or by any other means,” said Mr W. J. Jenkiri. ‘ I think this association should take the strongest possible exception to the slur cast upon the department which we know is "doing such useful and effective work for the community as a whole. In connection with the wheat-growing and the allied industries—flourmilling and breadmaking, the control exercised by the department during the war years and immediately afterwards was undoubtedly laid down by the Government aa being in

the best interests of all concerned, anjl it is unfair to state that the anxious to continue the control. I know that the department has a comparatively small but efficient staff, but it has divei9 and important duties to perform for other sections of the community. Professor Condlitie’s trainma is no doubt responsible tor his criticism, tie has perhaps neither bad the opportunity nor the will to get into close touch with the manufacturers and see the work that they are doing, lie is probably unaware of the fact that the department so ablv controlled by the Bon. vv. Downie Stewart is cognisant of the fact that the country’s prosperity is mainly dependent upon the value rei ceived foi the products of the soil.”

Mr Jenkin moved: “That this executives desires to place on record its appreciation of the excellent work done and being performed by the Department of Industries and Commerce and its entire confidence in the Ministerial head of the department, the Hon. W. Downie Stewart, its secretary, Mr J. W. Collins, and the staff generally.”

Mr H. Willis said he thought that too much prominence had been given, in Mr Jenkins’s remarks, to Professor Condliffe. The professor was a young man, who had undoubtedly had a brilliant career, but he seemed to occupy his time with theorising upon the theories of others—all that a young man could do. *i’he motion was carried.