Farm lobby funds

Press, Volume CX, Issue 32450, 10 November 1970, Page 3

Farm lobby funds

(N.Z.P.A. Staff Correspondent) WASHINGTON, Nov. 8. American farming interests are ready to back their political demands with hard cash for politicians who may be in a position to advance their cause. This is clear from reports that milk producers established last year a trust for agricultural political education, which is now holding Some $U5400,000 in donations from dairy farmers throughout the country: Beneficiaries during the recent Congressional election campaign included the chairman of the House Agriculture Committee, Mr W. R. Poage (Democrat, Texas). Mr Poage received $5OOO, even though he was not opposed for re-election. The Texan Democrat is becoming known to New Zealanders because of his promotion of the Pesticides and Economic Poisons Bill, a measure seen here as a classic piece of devious trade protectionist legislation which, ■if passed, could heavily cut American dairy imports. According to an Associated Press report, the trust paid out $6700 for a dinner in Mr Poage’s honour last autumn.

The Associated Press reported also that half of the trust’s campaign money had gone either into top Senate races in rural states or to elections involving House Agriculture Committee members. Milk, as the Associated Press pointed put, is buoyed by Government price supports. _ . . Among other beneficiaries of the trust is Mr John Melcher (Democrat, Montana), who received a soooo

boost to his campaign funds. Mr Melcher is the promoter of meat inspection legislation which, should it become law, would severely hamper New Zealand and Australian exports to the United States. Another recipient of funds from the trust is Mr Graham Purcell (Democrat, Texas).

As chairman of a sub-com-mittee of the House Agriculture Committee Mr Purcell, like Mr Poage, is in a key position to influence the shape and progress of farm legislation. Mr Purcell, however, is known to take a wider view of world trade in agricultural products than either Mr Poage or Mr Melcher, a fact which has not gone unnoticed by New Zealanders in Washington. His sub-committee is considering Mr Melcher’s meat inspection measure. In a number of constituencies the trust is reported to have made campaign contributions to both the incumbent and his challenger—a point which drew from a trust official the explanation: “We hope to have a friend, no matter which one is up there in Washington.”