ASKED TO LEAVE CONFERENCE

Southland Times, Issue 22956, 31 July 1936, Page 7

ASKED TO LEAVE CONFERENCE

NELSON FRUITGROWER REFUSAL TO WITHDRAW REMARK (United Press Association.) Wellington, July 30. Persistent refusal to withdraw a statement which was described as being equivalent to calling the chairman a liar resulted in Mr J. L. Brown (Nelson) being asked to leave the Dominion conference of fruit exporters to-day. The breeze occurred when Mr Brown referred to a confidential report furnished by the Executive Commission of Agriculture to the Minister of Agriculture which, he stated, contained certain references. The chairman, Mr H. E. Stephens, denied Mr Brown s statement, but the Nelson delegate refused to accept that. There was an inference in the annual report of the New Zealand Fruit Export Control Board before the conference that the Executive Commission of Agriculture, which conducted an inquiry in Nelson, absolved the Control Board' asserted Mr Brown. He said that was largely true, but the point asked for by the petitioners was practically granted. They knew the commission actually insisted in its confidential report to the Minister of Agriculture on the question of an addition in the number of brokers and the appointment of a certain firm in Birmingham. The chairman: Have you seen the report? Mr Brown: No, but it is true. The chairman: It is not true. Mr Brown: I won’t accept that. Contending that Mr Brown’s attitude was equivalent to calling the chairman a liar, Mr L. B. Robinson moved that Mr Brown be asked to withdraw the remark. When put to the meeting the motion was carried. Mr Brown! however, refused to withdraw and on the chairman’s request he left the conference.