FARMERS’ UNION

Hokitika Guardian, 18 May 1940, Page 7

FARMERS’ UNION

■LEADER CRITICISES CABINET. (Per Press Association —Copyright). HASTINGS, May 17. At the annual conference of the Hawke’s Bay Provincial Executive of the Farmers’ Union to-day, Mr W. H. Mulholland (Dominion President of the Farmers’ Union) spoke. He asked: What is the Government doing to tell the- people about the situation ? What is it doing to tell them how to meet the situation. We had a flurry of recruiting speeches a few weeks ago. Then there was silence. What is impeding the war effort? First of all, I am going to say that we have a number of inefficient Ministers. I don’t include all the Ministers in that charge. The Prime Minister fs fullly seized of the position. but there are a number of other Ministers who are not. They can disprove my words with action. We want action. That is a demand from us a farmers’ organisation to-day. I am satisfied that if the Government will give us a courageous lead, and will come out into the open and will ask all of the community to accept sacrifice in plain language, the whole of the people of New Zealand will follow any decree of sacrifice. We need leadership. The only way that spirit is going to be displayed is by a call to sacrifice—a call from the men who are placed in leadership by the votes of the people. I am afraid that too many of them are falling down on the job. We must ask the Prime Minister to throw slackers out of his team, unfurl a banner, and ask people in New Zealand to do all they can to help to win this war.” The following resolution was passed: “That in view of the very grave danger that is facing the people of this country—a danger so great as to imperil our very existence—and with the feeling that we are not making the maximum effort to assist the Allies, this representative meeting of farmers in Hawke’s Bay urges the Government to call Parliament together immediately,. and to set up a War Cabinet composed of all part’es, and, as well, of men outside Parliament who may be chosen for their ability to give effect to a need for the best utilisation of money and manpower available for the country’s war effort.”