THE FARMERS' DEPUTATION

Auckland Star, Volume LII, Issue 280, 24 November 1921, Page 11

THE FARMERS' DEPUTATION

; : PREMIER'S STATEMENT QUESTIONED. : (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) V WAXGANTJI, Wednesday. lathe course of liis speech at tbecon'dniion of the Budget debate the Prime IBjiistsr stated that lie had received Iron the men who had boon present at tin ddw famous Farmers' Union deputation a repudiation of tho whole thing, ind l statement that they felt they had J)to induced to attend tho deputation under % misapprehension. Tho Dominion president of the Farmers' Union to-night expressed his astonishment at the statement. Hβ pointed out that the deputation represented not merely the Farmers' Union, but also the , owiwfs, the North and South Island Dairy Association, and the A. and P. ■Associations. Mr. W. D. Hunt, who was unanimously chosen spokesman, read his speech to the deputation, who unanimously endorsed it before it was read to Mr. Massey. The few remarks made iy Mr. Marshall and himself -were simply in lapport of what Mr. Hunt had eaid. "I *m satisfied," concluded Mr. Poison, that whoever the individuals were who tried to curry favour with Mr. llassey afterwards, they wcro not members of the Farmers' Union deputation, who I know to be loyal men with, no backstairs proclivities."