MIGHT MISLEAD

Evening Post, Volume CXXVII, Issue 108, 10 May 1939, Page 7

MIGHT MISLEAD

RUNHOLDERS' FEAR

SHEEP-FARMING PLEBISCITE

(By Telegraph—Press Association.)

DUNEDIN, May 9

The possibility that, if a plebiscite were taken by the Government to test the feelings of sheep-farmers throughout the Dominion over the guaranteed price for wool and frozen meat, the votes of the small holder might result in giving a v/rong impression of the attitude of the large runholder was advanced at a meeting this morning of the Otago provincial council of the New Zealand Farmers' Union, and a recommendation was adopted that the franchise, if a plebiscite were taken, should be in proportion to the sheep holdings of each farmer. - Mr. D. H. Cockburn. who introduced the recommendation on belialf of the executive, advocating a method bf voting in proportion to the size of each farmer's flock, said that there was mention, in the light of recent events, of a plebiscite being taken on the question of a guaranteed price by the Government, in the hope that it might be carried, and thus strengthen the case for the adoption of the price. He moved the following recommendation: "This executive is definitely opposed to a guaranteed price for wool and frozen meat, but, if the Government accedes to a request which certain small groups of farmers have made for a plebiscite on the question, it is strongly of opinion that, in all fairness, voting should be in accordance with the sheep holdings of each farmer —that if a man with 100 sheep is entitled to one vote, then the man with 2000 is entitled to 20 votes." Mr. R. S. Thompson said that if the Government were sincere it could not take exception to the motion, and another member suggested that farmers should not., have anything to do with the plebiscite unless it were conducted on the basis proposed by the council. The motion was carried.