He Was Too Busy To Be Interviewed

NZ Truth, Issue 1262, 6 February 1930, Page 1

He Was Too Busy To Be Interviewed

Mr. Stallworthy'?". asked "Truth." But the Minister wouldn't accept that offer at the time. He countered — the, door gradually closing- as 'he did so — ; — with the remark that he was too busy to discuss the matter, but would be pleased to see' the interviewer . "another time." This dim and distant method of disposing of a matter so inimical to the public health spurred the reporter to greater; efforts. ■ "Will you deny, Mr. Stallworthy, that, you made the statement?" he asked. Mr. Stallworthy ■ intimated that he wouldh't deny making it, and the door closed another few inches. . Am I to take it then that you refuse to be interviewed on this vmatter?—l am' too biipy. I will see you 'another time. ■ ■■■-.*. . Will you see me Jo-morrow at 9 o'clock? — No. At 9.30, then?— No. .Then will you see me at 10 o'clock? — No. Will you%iake a definite appointment to. see me? — I will see you another time, I am too busy now. Then I can only take, it Mr. Stallworthy, that you refuse to be interviewed? 'r*v

Mr. Stallworthy's last words, as he finally closed the door, echoed down the deserted corridor" m the wake'of the representative's retreating footsteps. " "; . ; ••, ' "I am not refusing to be interview;---i ed," said the Minister, "I am too busy and will see you another time." Over the week-end, however, Mr. Stallworthy apparently reconsidered the position, and on Monday granted an interview without hesitation. Ab soon as the reporter was ushered into the Minister's room, a 'stenographer entered and prepared to record'the conversation. . ■ •■■■■ v I The reason for the visit explained, Mr. Stallworthy was asked if he "had directed his department to take action m accordance with the declaration h«;

. The Minister insisted that, his secretary was present, but was reminded that the , vital part of the interview had taken place m the corridor of Parliament House, as the reporter accompanied him on his way to attend a Cabinet meeting. • > Mr. Stallworthy insisted., that his secretary was present, and asserted that he had never been interviewed m the corridor as he went to attend a Cabinet meeting. . ; "Are you denying, Mr. Stallworthy, that you were intervfewed as I accompanied you ' along the corridors?" asked "Truth's" representative. . ■ ' "I am not going to deny or affirm anything," was his retort. Then, he added: "I told you m reply to your question that it was competent for yoii or any other person to bring a prosecution 'against any person if you thought that the law '. was^not being 'complied with." "Truth": And receiving that reply. I then said that it was the department's work to institute such proceedings, and asked if your department had a free hand and could prosecute where boric acid was being used. Your reply was "Yes." •' Mr. Stallworthy asserted t that this was.< not so, and again stated that h.j had said it was competent for any person to prosecute^ , "Truth" suggested that m giving such an answer the Minister was simply quibb'ing over, the whole question. He denied this. As the Minister insisted that the original interview had begun and ended m his private secretary's room, ; "Truth's" reporter intimated that further discussion was useless and 1 announced his intention of leaving the room. At .the door, he said: "You will remember, of course, Mr. Stallworthy, that", when I spoke to you on Friday about this matter you said then that you would not deny having made, that statement that the Department had the power to prosecute anybody using I boric acid m bacon." ' ; Noticing 'as these words', were said that the stenographer was making no attempt to take down what had been, said, the reporter then said: '"I sug-

gest that your typiste make a note of all that is said." . . "You have no right to insult 1 „ that girll" exclaimed the Minister, to which the pressman retorted that his remark was not intended as an insult to the girl. a As she was obviously there for the purpose of- recording all that was said, he suggested that she should do so, adding that it was of as much importance to the reporter that everything should be taken down as it was to the Minister., . . Mri Stallworthy then suggested-that the pressman leave his room, and "Truth" retired. The details of these , interviews speak for themselves. "Truth" denies absolutely hay- . ' ing misreported Mr. ■ Stallworthy : and unhesitatingly declares its report was an accurate, fair and unbiased account' of the matters j. discussed at that time. Nothing said by the Minister was m any f ■yyay distorted. The most important statement made by Mr. fcjtallworthy was that the Department could prosecute persons using boric acid m the preservation of foodstuffs — a statement he now. denies having made. The Coate.s regime had suspended prosecutions pending a'report by the acientihc and inaustri.U Research Department. But still the public was allowed to eat Doi'ic acia, a dangerous preservative, with its morning rashers, and Mr. Stallworthy's department did nothing to enforce the provisions of the Pure Foods Act. . The Minister, however, when the : matter was drawn under his notice by this paper, declared that prosecutions could be launohed. Why, = then', has he not warned the baconcurers of the Dominion of his intention to enforce the provisions of the Pure Foods Act, and why has he not instructed the officers of his Department to immediately prosecut« those who continue to use boric acid? , Mr. Stallworthy, as the official guardian of the public's health, certainly owes to the public a full and frank explanation, and he must not be permitted to continue the unholy alliance 'with about 50 per cent, of tLa bacon -curers of the. Dominion instituted by. his predecessor. The Government, m fact, is flagrantly flaunting an Act of Parliament, and Mr. Stallworthy and every member of trie United Cabinet are deliberately exposing the people of mo Dominion to the harmful effects of a dangerous food preservative. The real position cannot be evaded by the 'Minister's political hocus-pocus and side-stepping, and unless he immediately, issues instructions for prosecutions to be launched he will be failing 1 m his duty to the public. Without an amendment to the Act approved of by both legislative chambers, authority to make, an illegal bargain with bacon-curers did not and does not now exist. , As far back as April-, 3.929', Dr. Maisden, of the Scientific and. : lndustrift.l Research Department, stated publielv that Mr. Wright, of that same Department, had submitted his report, and that the position was >to be reviewed the following month. Presumably, i Stallworthy and Co. are still reviewing it.' ■■...-. .•' -, ', ; ■". : . ■'„

It is now twelve months since My. Wright, who was sent abroad to report on this question, furnished the resu'.t of his investigations.' \ That report, though not c final, ,it .; is . now. definitely kndwn, .was most unfavorable to the coterie who desire a free and open go with boric acid m the public , diet. In it, Mr. Wright does , riot hesitate'^o :stati^-that-thJe biggest bacon producing countries m the world have

prohibited the use of this dangerous preservative, It is banned m Great. Britain, the Continent, America and Australia. There must be some very sound reason for such prohibition, and New Zealand cannot affdrd to ignore the example set her. Quite recently two shipments of bacon were returned to the Dominion from Australia' because the ' Government analyst over there found boric acid. ■ i . A. splfendid way to build up confidence m New Zealand products! Jt only requires a few shipments to foe banned from the United States or Ihu Continent, and the Dominion will got another nasty jolt to its trade prestige abroad. . \ 'Are Sir, Joseph Ward and his Ministers prepared to close their eyes to the following- statement, which is out one of many important findings of the special committee appointed by the British Ministry of Health to repoit on preservatives and coloring matter m food? It refers to boric acid. "Apart from possible danger to human health from the presence" uf sic preservative itself, it has. also to be remembered that a preservative may mask incipient putrefactive conditions m the food, and thus not only, favor careless and improper methods of food production, but lead_to the consumption of unwholesome food. ; "We are informed that m the course of a series of experiments conducted m- for the Westminster City Council, it- Vas found that m minced pork boric acid did not .prevent certain decompositions occurring, though it hindered 'the production of odor." Acticm, and immediate action, is obviously necessary, arid Mr. Stallworthy must take r that action. , -' '\ . • His declaration that he was misre - ported and that he did not say his officers had; the right to prosecute is merely a red herring drawn across the trail— a red herring very similar to .those , with which Mr. Wilf ord, when Minister of Justice,' attempted to obscure the issues of the Elsie Walker case..y • . .... •.'.•', ,! In the one breath he says it is • competent for any individual to prosecute, and m the next he declares that he did not say the officers of his 'department could prosecute. \Vhy the distinction? If a private individual can prosecute, why cannot an officer of his department? It is very obviously the Health Department's responsibility to protect the public, and it - is the Minister's responsibility to .take proceedings, not the responsibility of a private citizen.