"CATSPAW."

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 169, 18 July 1936, Page 10

"CATSPAW."

FARMERS' UNION. GUARANTEED PRICES. TARANAKI DISCUSSION. •'< NO SPANNER IN WHEELS." (By Telegraph.—Special to " Star.") NEW PLYMOUTH, this day. "I feel that the Farmers' Union is being used as a political catspaw by political parties for their own benefit," ;ai(l Mr. W. T. McCaw, Kaimata, when :'rank opinions were being expressed at 1 meeting of the North Taranaki Union yesterday during a discussion on the attitude of the union to guaranteed prices. "The Opposition do not agree with guaranteed prices, and tlicy are stirring up the farmers against them," Mr. McCaw continued. "We promise the Government our co-operaxion. They are bringing in guaranteed prices, and if we do not give them co-operation, and it comes a thud, they will turn round ami say we had -ourselves to blame." The speaker pointed out that the union had nn alternative policy —that of compensating price. He thought the executive should give a lead to farmers to cooperate as far as possible.

The opinion of the recent Dominion Conference was that guaranteed prices did not necessarily mean State control of produce, said the president, Mr. IT. F,. Blvde. He thought they could take it that the farmers would help as much as they coidd.

Farmers realised they would have the guaranteed price for one year for the simple reason that the Government could not know what was going to be the position in 12 months' time, said Mr. C. H. Sorenson, of Hillsborough, who also attended the conference. The farmers would co-operate and try to make the thing a success, but he thought the farmers should be told their actual position, so that in 12 months' time they would know what they wove asking for, and the rest of the community would know also.

"No spanner is being thrown in the wheels," Mr. Sorenson remarked. "The union objects to the principle of State control, but will do nothing to stop, the Government from putting its proposals into operation."

"The farmers disagree with the Government taking control," said Mr. W. Maloney, "but if the union is going to go on with that propaganda, there is a danger that those opposed to the Government will ; take advantage to destroy the marketing system..of the Government. . If we state ouv opposition, we should leave it at that, and from then on assist the Governments"