Farmers’ Union President

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 199, 20 May 1936, Page 5

Farmers’ Union President

Sir, —Apropos of the proverb. “Surely the churning of milk bringeth forth butler, and the wringing of the nose bringeth forth blood; so the forcing of wralh bringeth forth strife” (I’rov. xxx, 33,1. I am compelled to write in reference to Mr. Polson’s, M.P. for Stratford ami president of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union, utterances at Hastings and Dannevirke in reference to the question of fixed prices for dairy produce and other marketable products from New Zealand. 1 am not Savage over bis remarks, but it makes my teeth Nash with joy to think that he might accept the challenge that I throw out to him. I am not a politician but a practical farmer, having, had 40 year.-’ experience on the soil of New Zealand and have suffered from the generosity of my bankers; I, say so advisedly because they have given me an umbrella in summer and taken it away in winter. Likewise, through the distributing and stock and station agents, who have discovered perpetual motion by charging interest that never ceases to increase your overdraft and haunts you night and day. Mr. Polson advises the farmers of New Zealand thiit the Labour Government is too socialistic and full of inconsistencies. He says he knows Mr. Nash is an honest man, but he is frightened that at some time we may have a dishonest Minister of Finance. He may be a good judge of dishonesty. I am not, because I have never met an honest man.

Considering that Mr. Polson was one of the party who travelled the seven seas of the world at the New Zealand Government’s expense to find ways and means of solving the money problem, he should be in a position to meet me on any platform in New Zealand. If I fail to prove that Mr. Polson knows nothing about what he is asking the people of New Zealand to believe. I will prove that the Government is doing its job well up to date, and that the farmers in New Zealand and their children’s children will thank God that Michael Savage existed. Should Mr. Polson accept this challenge and the vote go against me. a friend of mine will give £5 to any charity Mr. Polson likes to stipulate. On the other hand, should the debate go in my favour I ask that Mr. Polson donate one of Mr. Coates's (the late Finance Minister) bales of wool that he was anxious to send to England so as to get the present exchange. Verb sap.—l am. etc.. H. lAN SIMSON. Wellington, May 19.