PARTY POLITICS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 74, Issue 190, 13 August 1931, Page 11

PARTY POLITICS

FARMERS’ UNION ATTITUDE. LIVELY DEBATE AT WAHI I. The action of the provincial sv'v ♦ary of the New Zealand Farmers' Union, at Waibi, Mr. A. E. Kubiusom in using the name of the union when writing to the I’re-s. and in crilicisiuthe I iirinpiuyment Board in voting £>'• tor other purposes than that of the relief of unemployment, was the subject Ot an animated discussion at the ia-t meeting or th«. Waihi branch of the union. A resolution expressive of con iidence in the provincial secretary, and appreciation ol his published letter reia. live to the action ot the Uncmploy meat Board, was moved by Mr. W. G. Campbell. The honorary secretary of the branch, Mr. G. Haszard, objected to the tone adopted by Mr. Robinson in the official organ of the union. He contended that hitting below the belt and using abuse wa; not a decent way of conducting critic sm. Many farmers, he alleged, were leaving the union or refusing to join because of the attitude of the organ iri question. Air. O. B’jvmng said the question was whether Mr. Robinson should be allowed to tue the name of the union lor the purpose of helping the cause ol' the country parly. Party politics should not be allowed to be mixed up with the union. He moved an amendment to the effect that Mr. Robinson be asked not to do so in future. Mr. b. Morgan defended Mr. Robinson’s articles as published in the official organ. Mr. Colin Maaoii considered that the organ of the union was driving member# out. There was a right and a wrong way of hitting hard. Another member said that the remedy lay in the hands of the members. The executive was responsible for the policy of the paper, not Mr. Robinson. The motion was carried by nine votes to two. Near y half ot those presen refrained from voting.