N.Z. DAIRY PRODUCE.

Wairarapa Daily Times, 7 April 1927, Page 5

N.Z. DAIRY PRODUCE.

CONTROL BOARD

MR 8. PATERSON RESIGNS,

EONDON, Wedncsda v

Mr Stronach Paterson has written to the New Zealand High Commissioner, sir James Parr, resigning his position as Government representative on the London Agency of the New Zealand Dairy Control Board.

The letter points out that Mr Paterson discussed the matter fully with Mr Coates last November, and quotes Mr Paterson’s letter to Mr Coates on November 8, suggesting that the only course open to the writer was to Gontinue his work as opportunity ’offered for such modification of the of control as might mitigate the bad results he feared and for breaking down the prevailing hostility to New Zealand dairy produce, also the reestablishment of good-will and co-op-eration in all branches of the dairy produce trade in this country to which Mr Coates agreed. It also quotes a letter to Mr Coates on December 28, stating that he would consent to carry on the duties as long as lie had Coates’s confidence, of which Mr Coates assured him - and also expressed

a wish that he would carry on with the underhtand'ing that Mr Paterson should' continue the policy outlined on November S, which policy had since been scrupulously followed.

In December. .Mr Paterson informed Mr Coates that it would be impossible to carry .on-;-if-: Mr ,J. B. Wright Were appointed to the Loudon. Agency, and fully explained the reasons for his attitude.

As Mr Wright has now been appointed from the, da.e of the departure of Messrs lorns and Motion towards the end of this month, Mr Patrogou asks Sir James Parr to convey to the Prime Minister his desire to resign his position forthwith.

Mr Paterson's appointment as Government representative on the London Agency of the. Dairy Board was announced at the meeting of the board on June BG. 1112(5, the terms being a three months’ engagement, terminable by three months’ notice on either side. Mr Paterson was to attend all agency meetings and to ‘‘keep in close touch with all auctions contemplated or carried out by the agency.” The salary was iixed at £IOOO per annum. At the meeting of the Dairy Board in .January, the following resolution was carried:— That the Acting-Prime Minister be written to pointing out that Mr Paterson, the Government nominee on the London agency, is not supporting the policy of the board, and is making the position in London very; ditlicult, and the board consider that Mr Paterson should be retired from the agency. On .March 12 the Hon. 0. J. Hawkeu (Minister of Agriculture) replied stating that the board’s representations had been carefully considered, and that “the Government are satisfied with the manner in which Mr Paterson lias discharged his duties as their representative on the London agency, and, in the absence of evidence, cannot see their way to take action in the direction suggested in the board’s resolution. ’ ’