Mr. Mulholland Defended

Northern Advocate, 13 May 1939, Page 11

Mr. Mulholland Defended

[Per Press Association. Copfjright.l - WELLINGTON, This Day.

Mr. Lloyd Hammond, ex-provincial president of the Wellington Central Province of the Farmers’ Union, said yesterday that the statement of the Prime Minister on the farmers’ meeting ,at Feilding called for a reply, and

on behalf of the Feilding branch, which called the meeting, he would like to make it. “It should be noted that the meeting was convened by the Feilding branch, its chairman, Mr. J. Richardson, being in the chair,” said Mr. Hammond. Another point is that the Dominica President, Mr. W. W. Mulhollahd, was invited to be present at the meeting. He had nothing to do with convening it

Insulation Theory Jettisoned

“It is interesting to note also that Mr Savage has now completely thrown over his insulation theory, and appears to realise ■ that export prices do have a bearing on the economic conditions of the country. “The Farmers’ Union has always said the farm labourer was not getting as much in wages as he ought, and that the industry should be put in a position to pay higher wages. “Of course, Mr. Mulholland’s speech was political. It would have boon of little use if it was not, but no one can point to. anything in it of a party political nature,, and I defy Mr. Savage to point to any party politics in it.

Questions for Mr. Savage. | Mr. Savage says he does hot want to I force anything on the sheepfarmer. Why, then, does he object to the holding of these meetings (which are open to all farmers), to determine the desire of the sheep industry? Is Mr. Savage dissatisfied because the verdict has gone against him? “The Government has only itself to thank for this, because the sheepfarmer feels that there arc two paramount considerations affecting the position. “The first is that he should not be asked to buy a pig in a poke, and that the Prime Minister should make an offer so that he would know what he was getting, but Mr. Savage wants the farmer to sign the sale note before he is told the price. The second is that if the Government is so hard up that it cannot find £1,000,000 for the dairy industry, how on earth can it find the £5,000,000 which would be necessary to give a decent guaranteed price for meat and wool?” i colleagues, and so dispose of a number