WERE FARMERS SLIGHTED?

King Country Chronicle, Volume XII, Issue 1222, 10 June 1919, Page 5

WERE FARMERS SLIGHTED?

The Editor. Sir.—l have looked in vain in the Auckland daily papers for some rebuke, or apology for tbe action of tbe Mayor in not fulfilling bis appointment with the farmers on the occasion of their annial festival. That the conciliatory action of tbe Union Executive in issoing invitations to prominent Auckland citizen?, is to be greatly commended, tbe desire to foster a communion of interests is a broad-minded and worthy principle- The parochial attitude shown bi the Mayor, and the chairman of tbe Auckland Harbour Board ia almost beneath contempt—any gentleman would have fulfilled his obligation or apologised. Not as hac been the cose cf the Mayorattempt to exonerate himsnlf with a paltry, flimsy excuse. If the farmers are going to let this matter slide, they deserve all the abuse and exploitation they get. A special meeting should be held by the various branches of tbe union to consider what action should be' taken. Our patronage is worth many thousands a year to the northern city, bat as talk is superfluous, a practical demonstration is in the means of every farmer in tbe province. For instance:—ln writing to the publishers of my daily requesting them to discsntinus sending it, I made no secret of the fact that I was shifting my patronage as a protest against the ungentlemanly action of their Mayor. The fact that ha was not rebuked for his misconduct by the local press most be taken as a reflection of the feeling i" Auckland towards the farmer. This insult is something that we know and feel—it is something more. It is an indication that furnishes much for the mind to think over. Thus we realise why Kawbia has no roads or rail. wayß to its harbour—why Whangarei is not a port of call. Marsden Thompson complained bitterly of tbe parochialism of Auckland twenty years ago, and we will be complaining bo for all time unless we bestir ourselves and make our Union a powerful organisation, with our own political party representing farmers' interests, and controlled by an executive of competent men At tha prebent time we ar.a exploited by all kinds of trusts, and are tbe tool of every political faction that pretends to represent us.—l am, etc., V. L. JACKSON. Waitanguru.