Conference Brevities

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 669, 22 May 1929, Page 6

Conference Brevities

Here is a case of a farmer's unusual oratorical contortions: A delegate at the conference, when speaking on a legal point, said: “A country member put his shirt on it, and lost his seat —because he didn’t know enough!" On account of heavy railway penal freight rates on stock foods, Mr. M. E. Barrowclough (Morrinsville) anticipates that farmers will very shortly have to provide for the extensive use of concentrated foods for their animals. Penal freights, he said, were prohibitive.” “If the railways do not behave themselves, we can punish them now,” declared Captain Colbeck, speaking on penal freights. , “In the old days we had to use them whether we wanted to or not, but we will soon have them where we want them —giving equal treatment all round.” “Some people think that a farmer can live in a tent and a worker can live in a £I,OOO house,” said Mr. Harkness yesterday, in making a plea that provision be made for the erection of farmers’ homes on Crown settlement lands. * * * “If the C.O.D. system grew too much, it would become too unwieldy,” said Mr. R. D. Duxfield yesterday afternoon. “Then,” said Captain H. M. Rushworth, “the post office could i take on some of the unemployed.” * * • “Nobody else pays taxes but the I merchant—according to him.”—Mr. ’ McCready’s cry from the heart. * * * * How Germany may have won an t established place in commerce without a setback was told by Mr. W. J. Poison, Dominion president of the union, j “Once Germany was a collection of small States, with conflicting political views,” he said “One man bound these States together. United, they went close to having the greatest hold on the world's trade. I venture to say that if Germany had not committed the mistake of going in for the Great War, it would have been the greatest power in commerce today.” * * * Two farmer-politicians were on the conference platform—Mr. W. .1. Poison (Independent) and Capt. H. M. Rushworth (Country Party). Mr. Poison told delegates what they could do. “We sit together in Parliament,” he said, “and if between us we cannot get something for the farmers, we will have failed in our mission. ...” ; Then, from the midst of the confer- i ence came a booming voice: “Then I : will be the only farmers’ man in the i House!” | Delegates jumped, before recognising Mr. W. Lee Martin (Labour), who is ; also a conference delegate. Apologies, of course—and explanations! i