Remarks Explained

Press, Volume CV, Issue 30976, 4 February 1966, Page 12

Remarks Explained

(N.Z. Press Association)

WELLINGTON, Feb. 3. Dr. A. T. Johns, Assistant Director-General of Agriculture, has said that the remarks attributed to

him in a Press Association message from Hamilton on February 1 were taken out of context and give the opposite meaning than the argument developed in his address.

He had been speaking at the annual conference of the Society for Animal Production at the Ruakura Animal Research Station.

“The points made were that agricultural scientists had complained in the past about lack of Government action to improve their lot. They had complained that they were not directly represented on the committee of the agricultural development conference or on the National Research Development Council,” he said in his statement.

“However, the former organisation had focussed attention on the need to develop our agricultural resources while the latter had recommended increased funds for agricultural research. “These recommendations have been acted on by the Government. It is now up to the scientists to spend this extra money wisely and show that they are responsible people. “If they do not they cannot have any grounds for complaints in the future about lack of recognition,” he said.

Dr. J. E. Packer, formerly of Christchurch, has been appointed warden of O’Rorke Hall, the Auckland University students’ hostel. A son of Professor J. Packer, he took his degrees at the Universities of Canterbury and London. He is married with two children and has alreadytaken up his appointment.