REMOVED FOR POLITICAL REASONS.

Shannon News, 11 October 1929, Page 3

REMOVED FOR POLITICAL REASONS.

HON. J. G. COBBE AND FEILDING FARMERS’ FREEZING CO. DID NOT RESIGN CHAIRMANSHIP The Hin. J. G. Cobbe, Minister for Industries and Comlnerce, has forwarded the following letter to the chairman of Directors of the Feilding Farmers’ Freezing Company, Ltd.: — “'I have given due consideration to the statements made by Mr J. J. Bryee at tHe meeting of directors of the above company on the 4th inst., which statements were evidently endorsed by the other directors, as shown by their silence and practically unanimous vote. Under these circumstances I feel it would not be agreeable to. the directorate, or pleasant for myself, if I were to remain a member of the Board. I have therefore to ask you to accept.,my resignation as a director. “You will remember that Mr Bryce said it was not fitting that I should .be chairman of a freezing company,, the reason being that I was “a member of a Government whose taxation proposals were going to iuin the farmers, not only the big men but the smaller ones. The proposals Avould ultimately absolutely cripple the production of fat lambs, and the freezing industry and the freezing works of the country would be ruined.” These and other statements' were apparently agreed to bv the other directors. “You will no doubt agree that if 1 am unfit to hold the office of chairmaoi it necessarily 'follows that Lara, unfit to be a director.

“There is another and possibly a stronger reason why it is not fitting that I should remain on the directorate, j regard a frezing company as a business concern, and it is my firm conviction that it should be conducted upon purely business lines. .Such matters as religion, politics, or nationality should not be allowed to obtrude. The members of your Board are evidently of the opinion that political colour is ot greater importance than business principles. I entirely disagree with their view, and as such wide difference of opinion, is unlikely to further the bearinterests of the it is plainly my duty to resign. “I do not wish either you or any other director to imagine for a single moment that I regret my removal from the office of chairman of the Freezing Company. : You will, no doubt, remember how reluctant I was to take tinposition and the length of time I took for consideration befoi’e I accepted it. “You will also remember that after my return to Parliament last year I informed the Board that I aid not wish to continue as chairman unless it was tlie unanimous wish of the directors. “Had my offer to resign been accepted at that time I. would not have been compelled to listen to the splenetic attack made upon the Government of which I am a member, as well, as upon, myself, at your directors’ meeting on the 4th inst. “I am sending copies of this letter to the pfess, so.that shareholders ma.V understond the exaet position,' and that I may have' the opportunity of denying the report that I resigned the chairmanship of the company. I did not resign. I was removed from the position, solely. on the ground, as plainly stated at the meeting of directors, that I am a member of the present Government.”