FARMERS AND POLITICS.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVI, Issue 139, 14 May 1936, Page 4

FARMERS AND POLITICS.

REFERENCES TO PRESIDENT. Per Press Association. ELTHAM, May 13. . Unanimous support was given last night, at the annual meeting of the Eltham branch of the Farmers’ Union, to a motion moved by Mr J. Cocker, the president, that the Dominion president should be dissociated from politics. In moving the motion, Mr Cocker said the present president, Mr W. J. Poison, the member for Stratford, was placed in the unfortunate position of having to use all his endeavours to thwart the proposals made by the present Government in the interests of the farming community. Literally his hands were tied by being a member of the Opposition. The Government had shown their intention of working with the Farmers’ Union and it was obvious that nothing much would be done while Mr Poison was there to oppose the proposals. The speaker realised that Mr Poison had the welfare of the farmers at heart, but his activities as a politician and president of the Farmers’ Union did not coincide. Another difficulty was that, while Mr Poison continued to oppose the Government in their legislative proposals, it was not likely that the representations lie would make on behalf of the union would carry the same force as they would if he were neutral.