THE OTAGO FARMERS' UNION

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21951, 12 May 1933, Page 7

THE OTAGO FARMERS' UNION

TO THE EDITOR.

SIK, —1 wish to emphasise that this letter is not written by me as secretary of the Clutha Farmers' Union, and to dissociate members of the branch from the opinions expressed in it. At the last meeting of the Otago Provincial Council of the Farmers' Union the president said: "It was unfortunate that a correspondent to the press had given the impression that remits were not wanted from branches," etc. Surely the president does that correspondent too much honour, and surely the words in the report of the Emergency Committee to the effect that remits were to be limited could be read only in the manner in which they were read. Perhaps we in the country are somewhat prone to judge by results, and we see through the camouflage of words with which every important question is surrounded. It seems unfortunate to me that Messrs Sheat, Waite, and Murney have not recognised the position in regard to their appointment as members of the Mortgagors Relief Adjustment Commission, while at the same time they are holding seats on an executive body of one of the chief parties concerned. It is only the undoubted integrity of these gentlemen that has saved the situation. The necessity and importance of their judgments as a commission demand that those judgments should be removed as far as possible from any trace or suspicion of bias, and as a more or less disinterested but strong advocate of the Farmers' Union I would like _to see it kept above any suspicion. Whilst recognising the incalculable value to the country of the Relief Commission I would like to ask whether it is to go on for all time. Is it going to become an annual outing for the farmers to go before this commission and lay bare all their private works and interests and be told whether they can go on or not? Where is the leadership of the men we have elected to lead us? In his pre-election address in Balclutha Mr M'Skimmmg, M.P., gave us hope that things would be altered in the way of commissions, boards, high salaries, etc., but we find in Parliament he is "muzzled," and we are wondering if at the end of his tour he will, like Larwood, give us some straight talk. Let me appeal to Mr M'Skimming to stand up in Parliament and tell the members what he told the people of Balclutha. I can assure him that he will get much support.—l am, e t e _ James Wood. Barnego Flat, May 10.