MR. HOUSTON AND THE FARMERS.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXIV, Issue 34, 9 February 1903, Page 6

MR. HOUSTON AND THE FARMERS.

a —— REMARKABLE LETTER. ' The following correspondence lhas passed between Mr R. M. Houston,. M.H.R., and the secretary of the Kaipara Flats branch of the Farmers', Union: — "The Park," Kaipara Flats, January 19 1903. R. M. Houston, Esq., M.H.R., , Bay of Islands. Dear Sir—l beg your consideration of the following resolution:—Resolved, "Thrft this branch of the , Farmers' Union respectfully solicit the firm and undivided support of all, the Northern members of the House of Representatives for the purpose oi seeur- • ing £100.000 for the North Auckland extension during the coming session."—l am, etc., T. C. Sainsbury, Hon. Secretary. Mangonui, January 29, 1903. Sir,—l have the honour to acknowledge the receipt' of yours of the 19th inst, re the extension of North Auckland railway. Whilst I have always advocated the prosecution of this work, and will always do so, I wish you most distinctly to understand that'l do so on principle, ancl most certainly not on .account of the Farmers' Union. After the shametul way the union treated me, though a member of the Farmers' Union, at the last general election, I consider any request coming from ihe. Farmers' Union as a gross piece of impertinence, and as such I am determined to ignore any such request. Since entering Parliamentary life I have absolutely refused to connect myself with, any political association. I "ignored the Liberal As- j sociation and also the "National Ass." : The action of the Farmers' Union at the last general election proved to. me most conclusively that it was an attempt to resuscitate the "National Ass.," and this being the case, I withdraw my connection, and will ignore them in the future. During my political career I have end.eavo.ured to assist the settlers, and shall continue to do so in tiie future. If the Farmers' Union had adhered , to the principle laid clown by their '■■ conference, which was held in Wellington last year, 1 am satisfied the union would have commanded the respect ot every right-thinking man in the eomjimmityj but instead, the union did'ab in their power to make it a political machine. Great credit, however, is due to a great many of the right-thinking and sensible men —members of the union —in the Bay of Islands electorate, that they were not actuated by the narrow political views which the union tried . to force on them. Anything 1 can do to further the interests of the North I shall at all times be prepared to do; but it certainly won't be at the dictation or request of the Farmers' Union, otherwise the "National Ass."—l am, etc., R. M. Houston. Mr T. C. Sainsbury, "The Park," Kaipara Flats, Auckland.