CRITICISM REFUTED

Waipukurau Press, Volume XXVIII, Issue 133, 31 May 1932, Page 8

CRITICISM REFUTED

ON OTTAWA DELEGATION

MR GOODFELLOAV’S VIEAVS

ALCIxLAND, Last Night.

Criticism of the personnel of the New Zealand delegation to the Imperial Economic Conference at Ottawa has drawn a vigorous comment from Mr AV. Goodfellow, who will represent the dairy industry at the Conference.

“T regret that there have been strong protests against the inclusion of the Rt. Hon. J. G. Coat cs in the delegation,” said Mr Goodfellow. “Most of the statements made in that connection arc contrary to fact, and are very unfair. It has been stated that Mr Coates has pushed himself in for personal reasons. This is absolutelv un-

founded. Indeed, the producers of the Dominion had the greatest difficulty in persuading Mr Coates that it was his duty to go to Ottawa. He refused at first, but subsequently agreed to reconsider the matter.

“About six weeks ago the most representative deputation possible of all primary producers waited on the Cabinet Ottawa Committee, and urged that both. Mr Forbes and Mr Coates should go, and that on account of his

special qualifications, Sir James Parr should be included,” Mr Goodfellow continued. “That deputation represented the Dairy Board, the Meat Board, all the dairying associations throughout Now Zealand, the Farmers’ Union, the Woolgrowers’ Association, the Fruit Board and the pig industry. “The producers want Mr Coates to go, and apparently the secondary industry interests want M r Stewart,” said Mr Goodfellow. “Mr Stewart

may suit the manufacturers and the banks, but he will not suit the farmers, and the suggestion made in some quarters that ho should be the solo representative of this Dominion at Ottawa is preposterous.

“One might ask why’ Sir James Parr, the best qualified man in the Dominion for a. job of this sort, has been omitted,” added Mr Goodfellow. “He at least is both able and willing to go. and would, get something done.”—Dominion.