“ONLY POLITICAL DODGE”

Taranaki Daily News, 3 September 1929, Page 11

“ONLY POLITICAL DODGE”

MR. W. J. POLSON HITS BACK

“STUDIED MISREPRESENTATION.”

REPLY TO AGITATION AGAINST HIM

By Telegraph.—Press Association.

Wanganui, Last Night. “Don’t you understand that it is a political dodge ” said Mr. W. J. Polson, M.P., in reply to a question yesterday as to what he intended doing in connection with the agitation against him by certain branches of the Farmers’ Unon. “The Farmers’ Union is a non-party political organisation,” continued Mr. Polson. “It contains all shades of political opinion. One sub-provincial president is a Labour member in Parliament and another provincial president is the Reform Party’s whip: .In the past the late Sir James Wilson was both Dominion president and a member of Parliament.

“In my case I have put aside any possible opportunities for political preferment in order to remain independent, so that I may do justice in the House to my fellow farmers without being tied to any party,” said Mr. Polson. “The suggestion that the presidency of the union is only compatible with the support of Mr. Coates is one which the farming community as a whole will not subscribe to.”

“What about j’our attitude on taxation ” asked the interviewer.

“I have been subjected, of course, as a perusal of Hansard will disclose to you,” replied Mr. Polson, “to the most persistent attacks and studied misrepresentation that has ever fallen to the lot of a new member in Parliament. That is mere politics. “It is hoped by a group of large landowners who dislike my views on close settlement, which, after all, are in line with the Farmers’ Union views, to so weaken my influence with the farmers as to make the union a purely Reform organisation and so this agitation. “I am as strongly opposed as any man in the House to piling, taxes on the farmer, and when the opportunity occurs and the legislation is brought down I will not hesitate to do my duty. But I am in favour of bursting up very large estates, provided they are suitable for settlement, and I believe a temporary primage tax for the balance of the-year is the least dislocatory and the most easily levied tax, and one which will, under the circumstances, only_ be partially passed on. “To suggest that I should have voted against the Government on a no-confidence motion is absurd. The Government may amend its proposals as the result of the Budget discussion. As far as the union, is concerned I will take an opportunity of putting these questions in a proper light when the sessions ends. I will not allow my misrepresenters a clear field.”