In 1911, J. A. Ruddick published an article entitled An Historical and Descriptive Account of the Dairying Industry in Canada. Here is a quote from that article: "In 1894, Mr. J. B. MacEwan, who was then a member of the Dairy Commissioner's staff, received and accepted an offer to go to New Zealand, as Chief Dairy Expert. Mr. MacEwan was only two years in the dairying service of New Zealand, but to the writer's personal knowledge, he left a most excellent record behind him." (p. 56). Attached is the farewell testimonial dated October 1894 from James' colleagues in the Office of the Dairy Commissioner in Ottawa which was presented to James as he prepared to travel to New Zealand. A small sidelight: I notice that he is addressed as "Mac" a nickname that many other McEwans have carried over the years. The next piece of evidence related to James' career development is an article from the Otago Witness in New Zealand dated 8th October 1896. The article notes that James had passed through Auckland on his way to America. The writer then goes on to explain: "The desirability of one of our experts visiting Europe about this time was mooted at the Dairy Conference held in Dunedin in June last, and Mr MacEwan made his plans for the trip under the impression that the Government would offer no objection to the tour of inspection, which he considered necessary in the interests of the colony. But the Cabinet, after discussing his application decided that the department could not easily dispense with his services at this moment. Mr MacEwan accordingly resigned."
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