CRITICAL DEBATE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23001, 31 March 1938, Page 13

CRITICAL DEBATE

FEDERATION'S BURDEN POULTRY AND POLITICS AFFILIATION REJECTED [by telegraph—OWN" correspondent] WELLINGTON, Wednesday A suggestion that the New Zealand Poultry Producers' Federation should affiliate with the New Zealand Farmers' Union and so co-operate in presenting the primary producers' case to the Government was rejected after a keen and critical debate at the annual conference of the federation in Wellington to-day. The question was raised in a remit from the Waikato district council, moved by Mr. G. D. Hunter, who said the federation did not appear to have made very much progress on its own.

" We have to throw our baby somewhere, because we have not strength to push this Government or any Government on the lines we want," said Mr. J. W. McGlinchy, of Christehurch, in supporting the remit. " Our strength is not great enough. We should utilise ?\ny organisation that is going to bring political pressure to bear. If we are to be sacrificed for party politics we should affiliate with the Farmers' Union or any organisation that is going to .help us."

"Talking to .the Wind" Mr. McGlinchy added that tho members of the conference, were sitting thero talking to the wind. Last year they received an apology for absence from the Minister of Agriculture. This year they hail received the same. " We are the Cinderella of the primary producing industries," he said. Mr. E. J. S. Miller, of Taranaki, said the Farmers' Union was a powerful organisation, but in the past it had sponsored so many wild-cat schemes that it had not the influence in political circles that its numbers would lead one to believe. " We would not serve the cause of the poultry industry by affiliating with the Farmers' Union," he added. " Its operations extend into the political field, although perhaps they are not supposed to. There is a definite dnnger that we would be dragged in there as well." A Previous Experience

Mr. A. G. Mumbv, of Wellington, said they were affiliated to the union some years ago. Tba wheat question was an issue then. It was a very contentious matter and the poultry industry found after all, it was not getting a great deal of help from,the Farmers' Union, although 110 admitted there had been quite a big proportion of the union in support of the poultry producers. " Mr. AY. J. Poison fought tooth and nail for us," he said, "but we had the whole of the South Island against us. AY c will make bettei progross by going along by ourselves. " Replying to a statement that the Farmers' Union had sponsored many wild-cat schemes. Mr. Hunter said a good many of the ideas sponsoicd by the union were in operation to-day. Others had been adopted by political parties. "If we are going to leave politics alone entirely," he added, we mav as well shut" up shop and go home." . , , The suggestion to, affiliate was rejected bv 13 votes to six.