Agricola and the Farmers' Union.

Otago Witness, Issue 2490, 4 December 1901, Page 18

Agricola and the Farmers' Union.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir. — "Agiicola" is apparently angry when ]ie discards argument and goes in for abuse. I, might let the matter rest wheie it now is — the accusations ot misreading his article and putting a knowingly false constiuction upon his woids can be left to the judgment of those who have been taking an intelligent interest in what we have been writing, and I do not grudge "Agiieola" his somewhat questionable method of climbing down. But he breaks new cuouiid by. tfej.iug, that I should pin the

union, and so overwhelms me with compliments in advancing reasons why I should do so that I am constrained to forgive all the nasty thxngs he had written just previously. The reason why I think it impolitic for bona fide farmers to join the organisation is a very simple -one. Its policy and platform, have yet to be defined and confirmed, by a vote of the members, I presume, and I hold that » heterogeneous membership of lawyers, auctioneers, managers of loan companies, runholders, storekeepers, and farmers is not a proper organisation to do it. Mr Glas9 resented the advice of Mr Belcher, a representative of the Workers' Union, but he does not resent the advice, but receives within the fold, the equally aggressive and much more acquisitive representative of the stockbrokers or lawyers' union. But, then, the Farmers' Union will be an eminently respectable and cultured institution, and Mr Belcher is only a beastly working man. — I am, etc., John Law, jun. Ranfur^y, Novembei 28.