Mr Polson Defended

Manawatu Times, Volume 61, Issue 144, 20 June 1936, Page 4

Mr Polson Defended

Deplorable Criticism of “A Few Irresponsible!* w POVERTY BAY FARMERS INDIGNANT Per Press Association. GISBORNE, Last Night. Resentment at the criticism of Mr. W. J. Poison was expressed by members at the annual meeting of the Poverty Bay provincial executive of the Farmers’ Union, to-day. Mr. M. T. Trafford, in introducing the subject said Air. Poison had been badly “knocked” by some branches of the Farmers’ Union and ho thought a resolution should be sent from tihe Poverty Bay branch thanking him for the work he had done. No matter what Dominion president the New Zealand Farmers’ Union might have he could not. to the speaker’s mind, do the work that Mr. | Poison had done. He not only fought for the farmers with his brains but with his money. His advocacy of the farmers’ cause cost him many thousands of pounds. Now that ho was getting all these knocks from branches of the union and in the House, the speaker thought it would be a kindly action to send him a vote of thanks for the work he had done in the past, and ho hoped the Dominion Conference would follow suit. Mr. W. T. Ycilch said when ihe read of a vote of censure being passed by a branch on Mr. Poison ho almost cried. The idea of a branch daring to censure Air. Poison, wlho had given his life’s time and his money to improve the position of tihe farmers was “rotten.” The president (Air. J. E. Benson) said he agreed with Air. Yeitch that when a man served .15 years as president of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union and then a few irresponsibles carried resolutions adverse to him and had them spread throughout New Zealand it was indeed deplorable. Afr. Poison had wanted to retire last year but they insisted on his remaining in office. “Now that he is going out,” concluded the speaker, “let us be decent and commend him for what bo Ikas done.” It was decided on Air. Trafford’s motion that a vote of thanks be passed to Air. Poison, that ho be congratulated on the great work clone for the farmers and that it be a recommendation that ho bo permitted-to retain a seat op the executive for many years.”