FARMERS PLEBISCITE

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 10, Issue 76, 22 January 1947, Page 5

FARMERS PLEBISCITE

MISREPRESENTATION ALLEGED

MR R. W. DUNNING’S STATEMENT

The following' statement to the press has been made by Mr R. W. Dunning - , Sub-Provincial President Federated Farmers (Auckland Province) in connection with the recent reports anent the plebiscite conducted throughout the Bay of Plenty and the subsequent meetings of Federated Farmers.

I wish to correct some of Mr Parkers statements made to the Press of the Bay just recently. Much of it is terribly misleading through a misuse of words. Neither Mr Robinson nor Mr Wills could say that the voting was carried out to the satisfaction of both parties (meaning organisations) nor did they, except insofar as their duties as scrutineers in the office. The minutes of Wellington Conference as published by Mr Parker were also misleading, as words were added that should not have been there. The reference to the Waikato is also misleading, as that question is very far from settled. Ido know that many hundreds of farmers wish to stay within the Auckland group. I do not say that Mr Parker wilfully tried to mislead anybody, but unfortunately his way of putting it will do so. Mr Parker should not try to force the issue as he has. The question is still sub judicae, and will be handled by the Wellington Council on the 25th or 28th of February.

Why did Wellington at the last Auckland Conference admit Auckland as a province allow it to be registered as such, and then immediately proceed to try to cut it up. I do know that many of Auckland’s members did not vote because they had so often stated that they were going to stay with Auckland as part of the Dominion organisation, and did not see any sense in setting up an expensive local group. That they thought was enough. Unity is strength, then why split ourselves up into smaller and smaller groups? We must unite, but in the right way and for the right things. It is a fact that those who are sponsoring this local move have never taken.part in the farmers organisations nor have they at any time tried to make contact with either myself or my executive. Every approach has been made by us. Signed, R. W. DUNNING.