PRODUCERS' UNION AND FARMERS' UNION.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XL, Issue 7068, 30 July 1901, Page 4

PRODUCERS' UNION AND FARMERS' UNION.

(to 'the editoh.)

Sib, —A wit has aptly said a "man may hold many posts if he but hold his tongue." Occasions sometimes -arise however, when silence is contemptible, therefore on behalf of my fellow delegates and myself I speak (or write). In your report under the above heading in your Saturday last paper you say inter alia—''A discussion then ensued in reference to alleged disloyalty, &c." but you discreetly refrain from publishing the libellous charges made by Mr Glass (secretary) and Mi; Peat (chairman). Further on in the same report, you refer to the letter from the Producers' Union delegates asking a withdrawal of the charges. Our letter was worded as follows: "Our delegates whilst being strongly desirous of amalgamation, with the Farmers' Union," and being pleased that your new programme is being amended to' accord with that of the Producers' Union, in order to pave the way to unity, desire in the first place that the aspersions made against our Union and its officers be withdrawn by you." (2) Should you. decide to give effect to our above wiskes, our delegates will lay your amended programme (when, printed and supplied to us) before our Union for its favorable consideration." ' (3) Meanwhile we consider the terms you offer are not in the nature of amalgamation, but of absorption, a course we point out open to us at any time." (Signed by all delegates). A reply to this letter repudiated the idea that any aspersions had been made, &c." Some hours after this resolution had been passed and written it was in my presence altered by an irresponsible delegate, and the word " repudiate" struck out. The charges to which we take exception were "That Mr Moore had "betrayed" them, "run his meetings with our funds," &c, from Mr Glass ; and the Chairman following, said " that Mr Morris' own statements condemned him and that he had betrayed his trust. The Chairman warmly added " that those associated with him (Mr Moore) in such dishonorable action, come her? to assert an equality with us, &c." Our delegates felt that these unjust charges (to put it mildly) were made under misapprehension. When opportunity came, we showed that these grave charges had neither justification nor foundation. Subsequently members of the Farmers' Union expressed sympathy with: us in this uniust attack, and said such charges should not have been made. Having apparently given satisfactory explanation our delegates asked that the charges be withdrawn, and the reply was in effect a repudiation of the existence of such charges. Then it was for the first timo that personally my 'bristles arose, for I felt we were not dealing with honest mon ; that their " olive branch1' was of thorns—that only contemptibly could have been accepted. Had we expected this" our four delegates who accepted the invitation to lunch wouldnot have done so. I cannot close without thanking those members of the Conference who treated us with courtesy and consideration—such is gratefully remembered.—Yours, &c,

Evelyn Maodonald,