Farmers’ leader seen as failing

Press, 30 August 1986, Page 2

Farmers’ leader seen as failing

PA Greymoutli The Harihari Federated Farmers' representative, Mr Lindsay Molloy, has suggested that the West Coast branch ask the Dominion president, Mr Peter Elworthy, to step down.

Mr Molloy told Thursday’s quarterly meeting in Greymouth that Mr Elworthy should be replaced by someone with a more aggressive style who would represent the grassroots farmer.

He said Harihari farmers were frustrated by the lack of challenge that Federated Farmers (through Mr Elworthy) was giving to the Government about its farming policy. Mr Elworthy had said that he was "very angry” about the situation, but Mr Molloy told Thursday’s meeting that he wanted to see Mr Elworthy acting very angry.

“We want true representation to the Government and if that has to happen, Federated Farmers would have to find a better leader,” he said.

Mr Molloy said the federation might also receive more support from farmers throughout New Zealand if they were better represented.

But an executive member, Mr John Clayton, said Mr Elworthy represented the federation well, and had done his job in calling several protest marches, but there had been a poor response. The issue was held over to the November meeting.