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Northland Age, Volume 1, Issue 15, 27 March 1929, Page 7

(To the Editor Sir,—ln a statement dealing with the last election campaign issued by Colonel Bell’s committee, it is asserted “Grounds was hitting at Coates but he was most unfair to Bell.” This is based upon my reply to a question at a meeting at Kaitaia on the eve of the election. The question and answer as printed in the circular are incorrectly presented, but we let that pass. It is true that I was at the time more concerned about the action of the Government than of the local Member. This led me to be much too easy with Bell, not unfair as they declare. I could have said with complete justification that typical ot these contradictory times Bell had supported control and had also supported, defended and generally apologised for his leader who had been

largely responsible for smashing it. .Some M.P’s genuinely supported Control from its inception being controllers by conviction, others displayed varying degrees of warmth according to current atmospheres. The zenith of Bell’s warmth was probably reached in March 1927- when at the breakdown of Control, he declared that it would have paid the producers to have sacrificed the whole seasons returns to have seen it through. When however it became manifest shortly afterwards that the actions ot his leader had been largely responsible for the breakdown, his zeal for seeing it through quickly evaporated while in his new role of apologist for his leader, he ascribed blame to the over-zealous action of the Control leaders. The idea that “Bell had been of invaluable the Board”

is amusing. It is one of those amiable fictions that are occasionally propagated in political quarters, and charitably allowed to pass into the stock of current illusions. But charity and tolerance must give place to sterner standards, when unfairness is imputed. Bell however won one distinction ; he was the the only helper who complained because he was not publicly thanked. The simple truth is that as Chairman ot the Dairy Council no intermediary was needed to enable me to get into personal touch with the Prime Minister, while throughout the whole period of legislative endeavours, I was in frequent and close touch with the Minister of Agriculture (Mr Nosworthy) who was in charge of the prospective legislation. The delicate balance in Parliament at the time, on party matters when Mr Massey had to depend upon the three independent members, did not apply to Dairy Control. It was brought forward on non-party lines and received the support of a large majority ot members including half the Liberal Party and all the Labour Party. I am, Etc., W. GROUNDS.