POLITICS AND FARMING.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 236, 5 October 1928, Page 9

POLITICS AND FARMING.

NO TIME FOR BOTH. THE TWELVE APOSTKES. FARMERS' PRESIDENT CRITICISED. (By Telegraph.—Parliamentary Reporter.) WELLINGTON", Thursday. The Labour member for Raglan (Mr. Lee Martin), who is a farmer, is frequently under fire from the Government Benches. He was in action again today over Rural Intermediate Credits. The Prime Minister expressed astonishment of Mr. Martin's criticism of the working of the scheme. "He is a farmer, and a very good-hearted member," began Mr. Coates. The Leader of the Opposition: He is a very good farmer, too. Mr. Coates: I cannot tell you about that. I have no doubt that he is all right, but he won't do much farming while he is a member of Parliament. Probably after the next election he will have more opportunity of looking after his farm ? Mr. Sullivan (Avon): Might that not apply to Kaipara? Mr. Coates: It might, but I know that my interests are in very good hands. Possibly there is a wider sense to be considered so far as I am concerned. "It is killing the associations," interjected Mr. Martin, at a later stage of the Prime Minister's speech when refuting a suggestion that, because a single applicant for credit was allowed to accept a guarantee from any company or association of persons, the associations were affected. "There is the New Zealand Farmers' j Union and its president," replied the Prime Minister. "There is the political propaganda. The member for Raglan has swallowed holus bolus, boots and spurs, the statement of the president of the Farmers' Union, and he has no justification for the statement made. That gentleman was sent away to do a certain job for the country." Mr. Holland: There was an election coming on, and he had to be got out of the country. Mr. Coates: We don't mind that gentleman one bit. A member interjected that Mr Poison was at the United party's conference. "He was there," said the Prime Minister; "he was there advising the executive —the twelve apostles, or the twelve foolish virgins." (Soars of laughter.)