DEFENDING MR. POLSON.

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 225, 23 September 1929, Page 10

DEFENDING MR. POLSON.

BRANCH UNION'S VIEWS. OPEN CRITICISM WRONG. TRIBUTE TO PRESIDENT. (By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.) ■ • GISBORNE, this day. Opposition to the ■ open discussion oi complaints against the Dominion president'of the Farmers' Union, Mr. W. J. Poison,. M.P., was. expressed by Mr. M. T. Trafford.at a.meeting-of , the Poverty Bay executive of the union.

He moved, "That the Dominion .executive be asked. to circularise provinces asking that any discussion of the Dominion president's actions be taken in committee." ...

"We have never had a man in the union with the energy and value cf Mr. Poison," declared Mr. Trafford. "He has worked tremendously, and not only has he given his work and brains to the benefit of the union, but he has spent thousands of pounds of his own money in the promotion of the union's interests'"

Mr. Trafford declared that opposition to the criticism of Mr. Poison was based on party politics.

This view was supported by Meesrs. J. C. Field and F. S. Bo wen, the latter asserting that there was no medium through which more damage could be done to an individual than politics. It was agreed that the executive express continued and very warm support of Mr. Poison as Dominion president. SOUTHLAND OPINIONS. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) INVERCARGILL, Sunday. The position of Mr. W. J. Poison as member of Parliament and Dominion president of the Farmers' Union was discussed at a meeting of the Southland executive of the union yesterday. The following remits were before the meeting:—From Gore sub-executive: "That it be a recommendation that the office of Dominion president should not be held by any member for more than three years continuously." From the Mandeville branch: "That in view of recent utterances regarding land and income tax, Mr. Poison be asked to resign hie position as Dominion president of the Farmers' Union." The first remit was withdrawn and a full discussion ensued on the remit from Mandeville. Eventually it also was withdrawn.