Media’s exclusion from Cadbury meeting left public in dark

IT is a pity that representatives of the fourth estate were excluded from the recent meeting between Dunedin’s great and good and Mondelez representatives.

Had Mayor Cull allowed your reporters to attend and tell us what went on we might have learned whether he, and the other politicians who were present, promised Mondelez that they would lead a boycott of Cadbury’s products if it closed its Dunedin factory.

We might have learned, too, whether Mayor Cull promised Mondelez that it would continue to receive corporate welfare from his ratepayers, for Jaffa races and rates relief, if it went ahead with its plans.

Finally, we might have learned whether the members of Parliament present told Mondelez that they would draft legislation requiring it to pay redundancy compensation to its workers or face a ban on imports of its products from its remaining production facilities.

Sadly, we will never know the answers to these matters, just as we will never know whether our region’s representatives at the meeting talked tough to Mondelez or simply indulged in another unproductive talkfest, although we do know there will be more of them. Michael Gibson

Invercargill [Dunedin Mayor Dave Cull replies: ‘‘The purpose of the meeting was for city leaders and agency representatives to ascertain how they could achieve the best outcomes for the workers, their families and the wider community affected by the proposal to close the Cadbury factory. Because the proposal is still in the consultation stage between management and staff, it was inappropriate for media to be present. I am not in a position to offer either rates relief or event funding to anyone. That is decided by council committees to achieve the best available outcomes for the community.’’]

[Dunedin Labour MPs Clare Curran and David Clark reply: ‘‘Dunedin people are right to be pressing their representatives to leave no stone unturned in order to keep at least some chocolate production in our city. Your two Labour MPs certainly ‘‘talked tough’’ to Mondelez at the meeting convened by the Mayor, and obtained a commitment from the multinational to see if there were any options that could be discussed to keep some jobs in the city and some chocolate production.

‘‘We supported the rally organised by the community action group to give Dunedin people a voice, and we will work with Mondelez and anyone else to get the best possible outcome for the employees and their families.’’]

BIBLE READING: For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified. — Romans 10.10.