H.B. Farmers Criticise Rushworth Resignation

Northern Advocate, 25 January 1940, Page 4

H.B. Farmers Criticise Rushworth Resignation

[Per Press Association. Copyright .] HASTINGS, This Day. Opposition to the attitude of the Auckland Provincial Farmers’ Union in allowing its delegate on the Auckland Primary Production Council (Mr H. M. Rushworth) to hand in his resignation, was expressed ,at a meeting of the Hawke’s Bay Provincial Executive of the Farmers’ Union in Hastings yesterday.

It was stated by the members that no branch of the union should allow discredit to be brought on the union by such .an attitude. Gave Government Ammunition. Agreeing that the Council should not be condemned at this point, Mr R. F. Talbot pointed out that production could not be raised in a day. Unfortunately, the Auckland action hacl been the subject of various comment ,and the cause of some shots being fired by the Prime Minister (Mr Savage) at the Farmers’ Union. .Things like that equipped the Government with ammunition, and thus giving it an opportunity of criticising the ■ farmer. “Childish Statement.” “The other night a statement was heard over the air that one farmer had 100 44-gallon drums of petrol hoarded on his property,’’ continued Mr Talbot.

“To me nothing seems more absurd, “That amount represents about £6OO worth of petrol, and I fail to . understand any Minister being so childish as to believe a farmer would leave that amount of money lying idle on his farm.” No resolution w,as passed by the meeting.