Dumping New Zealand Produce in Britain

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 197, 18 May 1936, Page 10

Dumping New Zealand Produce in Britain

Sir, —It is said that a prophet has no honour in his own country, but your correspondent Mr. Doidge has skilfully avoided this contact by including in his previsions prophecies concerning two countries.

Not content witli the disposing of the economic possibilities of the present Government, and tlie work of Mr. Nash iu particular, lie invites his readers to listen to political discussions that may take place in Britain, next year, some time, never, witli political figures who may be, or maybe not. As a free lance with a free flow of language, I seem to recollect that Mr. Doidge was connected with the celebrated anti-farmer body known as the Democrats, and is one who could have enlightened our farmers as to why a certain public body decided to order German wire rope, instead of British, as every producer in this country would desire. In altering these decisions, or the necessity for them, it may be found that Mr. Nash will receive as good a welcome, personal as well as economic, as any previous Dominion Minister, and, if the writer is allowed the dishonour of prophecy, it will not be due to Mr. Walter Elliot and his colleagues. I notice your correspondent uses the name of Mr. Lloyd George. Well, it was this pre-eminent statesman, branded as a revolutionary, radical. Socialist, and anything else, by the Conservatives of the day. who has placed on the British Statute Book some of its finest and most enduring laws, who showed the Admiralty how to defeat the submarine, and Kitchener how to supply an army. Is it not possible that a New Zealand radical, revolutionary. Socialistic and anything else that Dominion Conservatives think fit to hurl at him, may leave some imperishably good statute 0 for this fair and deserving country? I think so.—l am. etc., IL STRATFORD. Norse wood, May 15. The Farmers’ Union Sir,—A few days ago many papers published a Press Association message giving the views of Mr. J. Cocker in lhe matter of the Dominion president of the Farmers’ Union being a member of Parliament. Mr. Cocker lives at Eltham and is chairman of the local branch of the Farmers* Union. He is no doubt an estimable man, and, like anyone r’so, has a right to express his views, but I cannot understand v.by his opinions should be deemed of sufficient news value to be broadcast throughout the length and breadth of the country. lam a member of the Farmers' Union and I can say that far from gaining support for his arguments, Mr. Cocker's remarks will excite disgust. May I. point out that Mr. Polson did not seek the office of president this jear. At the July conference he retired, but the very strong and continued representations made to him induced him to agree once more to nomination, and he was elected by an overwhelming majority. Mr, Cocker says in effect that no matter what the Government does the union should show no opposition, but rather play up in the hope of gettiug something. 1 £in rather afraid that by adopting such an attitude the union would not achieve much of value, and if I know anything about the present Ministry, or the last Ministry either, I would say it would be rather contemptuous of such an attitude.—l am, etc., PRINCIPLES FIRST. ■Wellington, May 15.