POTATOES AND THE FARMERS' UNION

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22430, 17 June 1938, Page 17

POTATOES AND THE FARMERS' UNION

*0 THB EDITOR Of THB PBBSS Sir,—Mr Mulholland has again rushed into print with statements and telegrams dealing with the marketing of potatoes, without first reading what the other fellow has said. First of all he atatefe that no one had any authority to ask the Government to help. Who told him this? He then qualifies his statement by saying that no member of the Farmers’ Union had any authority. He goes on to say that the Farmers’ Union welcomes any scheme for marketing potatoes overseas so long as the scheme Is not compulsory. Mr Mulholland is one of the greatest supporters of compulsory marketing; otherwise he would not support the wheat pool as he does. To show hoW he Issues statements about matters which he has not studied, one has only to refer to “The Press” this morning, wherein he says: “While the report of the meeting of H growers at Ashburton uses the words ‘plans of the Government’ for the marketing -of potatoes.” The meeting at Ashburton mentioned no plans, but simply supported the South Canterbury deputation’s efforts to secure the Minister’s support in marketing the season’s surplus of potatoes. “The season’s surplus,” mark you. This makes it quite plain that Mr Mulholland has not even read the report of the meeting or the correct text of the telegram sent to the Minister. If the president- of the Farmers’ Union would offer some useful suggestions in regard to disposing of the surplus potatoes this season, instead of trying to belittle the Government on every occasion, he would earn the plaudits of all farmers.—Yours, etc., POTATOES. Ashburton, June 15, 1938.