Farmers’ Union President

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 198, 19 May 1936, Page 11

Farmers’ Union President

Sir, —I notice a Press Association message from Dannevirke dated May 15 with regard to Mr. Polson’s address to the Farmers’ Union at Dannevirke. It was stated that it was hoped that Mr. Polson would confine his remarks tc a president’s viewpoint. In the first place, I would like to ask by what right does the Hawke’s Bay Dairy Company Association interfere with* the affairs of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union? Union matters are no concern of anyone except tiie members of thmmnion, and, to my mind, it is an impertinence for an outside body to interfere in this connection. It seems strange that so much organised propaganda is being put forward just at the present time. It seems that the object is to prejudice Mr. Polson’s re-election as the president of the union. However, Mr. Polson has stated that he is retiring from the presidency of the union this time. This is generally known to his political opponents, and it would seem that this propaganda is aimed at furthering the cause of a Labour Party nominee; masses of irrelevant objections to Mr. Polson are being brought forward. In view of the suggestion that the union’s president should have no connection with politics, it is interesting in this regard to note that Major R. 11. Dorman Smith, M.P., president qf the National Farmers’ Union of Great Britain, is a prominent member of the National GovernmentParty in Great Britain, and yet no objection is ever rasied to him. However, as New Zealand is going to “lead the world” it is perhaps not at all strange that some radical people in New Zealand take up this attitude. May I suggest that whatever Mr. Polson does, he stands firm on the platform of the union—the first plank of which is the freehold. It is this plank which Labour supporters are endeavouring to smash, but they will find that the great bulk of union members will fight them to the last ditch.—l am, etc., UNIONIST. Wellington, May 16.