IF NOT, WHY NOT?

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 605, 7 September 1909, Page 4

IF NOT, WHY NOT?

MR.T, E. TAYLOR AND THE FARMERS' UNION. * , . (By Telegraph.-Special Coircanotidont,) ChNStcliUrcll,. September G. _ ■ At a: rdcbht, meeting: of, C/iivistchurch ■ citi«_ ztms called to discuss th&' ulwmployod culty, Mr. IV- E,, Taylor, ■ M.P.,V made. Cora« very disparaging remarks" about tho f . atti<' tudbiOf the'l'Vnners' 'Union, 'for: w'hich 'tb«V', branch of the -union asked an explanation. : At Saturday's, meeting, of-'tho branch a re-, ply was Tcceived from Sir. Taylor, in wluoh to said:-- 1 ' .\ ' ■ , ,>'• ... ■. "I have hot a oopy of tho newspapor r<y \y. port you.refer toi-but 'have a clcar rccollco- v tion of what r. Kud' at tlio" meetins of oiti- ' zens called to consider tho unemployed oucstio'n. I :.very., carefully . stated ...that . I jivaj not; speaking, of the majority; of : the, farmers., but that I 'Was convincod that tho Farm« , S ers .Union was; bo-day ,one' of tho most extremely partftan . political organisations ' in\ New Z6aland,.\and" that: .tho:_handful of farmers ...who. engineer the, affairs tho.. , Farmers'; Union ; ,were':quietly,gloaUnc,over . the unemployed difficulty because- it afforded. 'thcm.an opportunity of ..reviling, the. party,., .to \vhioh tho union.-.is. politically: opposed by charging the i unemployed, difficulty,.'against' its palicyl- I believe ■.both : ';my.,,statemcntß, ; , ore' well founded.;. Neither; 'statement' sug«; {jests'.that/members of tho. Farmers' jUnion'. , Executive are individually Callous. 10 thesis-. , . tress : existing through-lack of. cinploymjjnt. Your union-is ■ to dehy the' correct. ' licsi'. of 1 the. opiuions 1 expressed, and wllMi x 1 I noiv repeat. /'An expression' of opinion from the politicalwire-pullers of tlie Farm-', v era',-.,Union .jvill not; in. any; degree' ..altcrjimy. conviction.','. .- - • ' The branch decided that' Mr., Taylor s lot- • ter gavo no explanation why,, if he did not wish, to excite the. public .againstUho'farm: ers, or the members of tho- Farmers' 'Union. -: ExepytivOj but against a .handful of ._ uii« .- named farmers, ho did not namo.tho individualsihe brought",these disgracefuli,charge? against, and'added'that the.member's (WOjiW; , ;. be 'interested-to' knojv .if,Mr.: Taylor's. epn>;: ; fictions .ever induced him', to , bring insulting ' V and disEraceful charges .against: the moving . spirita of the unions whoso members, live,-ana .;. have, votes in, towns. .'.lf iiot>. wliy not? . ' :