OTTAWA CONFERENCE .

Hawera Star, Volume LI, 3 June 1932, Page 4

OTTAWA CONFERENCE .

FARMERS’ UNION DELEGATE. EXCEPTION TO SIR F. BO YES. Strong exception to the appointment of Sir Francis Boyes as the Farmers’ Union delegate to attend the Empire Conference at Ottawa was voiced at yesterday’s meeting in Hawera of die South Taranaki Farmers’ Union provincial executive. It was resolved that the executive recommend tile appointment ot the Dominion president v- I '- ... J. Poison) in place of Sir Francis ijoyes, and that it Mr. Poison cannot attend tile Rt. Hon. J. G-. Coates should act as the farmers’ representative.

“Could you enlighten this executive on the matter?” asked Mr. D. Wards, addressing the chairman (Mr. E, J. Letts). “Who is Sir Francis Boyes?”

Mr. Betts: 1 am sure I don’t iurov; certainly no one entitled to represent the Farmers’ Union. Mr. Betts referred to the stand taken by the Wanganui provincial executive, which opposed Sir Francis and recommended Mr. Poison. So far as be knew Sir Francis Boyes’ only qualification was that lie served on the food commission in England during the Great War.

Mr H. J. Finlay deplored the fact that, so many delegates had been appointed. New Zealand was passing through the greatest crisis of its history and it seemed that its leaders were leaving the country to struggle along as best it could. In liis opinion the appointment of Sir Francis was a reflection on tlie Farmers’ Union.

Mr. H. Thrush pointed out that Mr. Coates was attending the conference with the other delegates as advisers.

Mr. J. Cocker: I wondered who Sir Francis Boyes could be to receive such an appointment. The fanners don’t know him.

Continuing Mr. Cocker referred to the food commission in England and said that millions of carcases of mutton were allowed to go> bad. If the Fanners’ Union was to be given representation then it should have Sir. Poison, one of the ablest men in the country to-day where it affected the farmers’ interests. It was mentioned by one speaker that Sir Francis Boyes was paying his own expenses to u+tend the conference.

Mr. W. E. Carter said that rbe ex pense of so many delegates was not warranted.

“I can’t agree with Mr. Carter,” said Mr. O. Robertson. “The Ottawa Conference is the most imposcant in the history of the British Empire and our representatives must have ail the information at their finger c.ps in discussing matters of internarional importance.” Mr. Carter: I am quite in ag cement with Mr. Robertson that the < onfsrence is important. _ Mr. T. Blair: It seems to me that the farmers had little say n the appointment of a delegate, yet the country is wholly dependent on the primarc industries. Mr. Wards: If the man'll a ibaiers and merchants can be represent’d at their own expense then I think if is a sorry day for the farmers if they cannot afford to send their own delegate. The resolution was carried unanimously.

THREE FROM MINISTRY CHRISTCHURCH PROTEST fßy Telegraph—Press Association.) CHRISTCHURCH, June ‘2. New Zealand’s delegation to the Ottawa conference was discussed by the council of the Canterbury Chamber of Commerce to-night and the following motion was carried : “That this chamber, directly and through the Associated Chambers of Commerce, urges upon the Government in view of existing conditions the necessity for some of the leaders of the Government to he present in the Dominion in the coming winter and in view of the large expense asks that Cabinet should review the question of sending three Ministers at the public’s expense.”