REPLY TO FARMERS

Evening Post, Volume CVII, Issue 135, 12 June 1929, Page 6

REPLY TO FARMERS

INEFFICIENCY CHARGE

SECONDARY INDUSTRIES : ,

(By Telegraph.) (Special to "The Evening Post") DUNBPIN, This Day. At a meeting of the Dunedin Manufacturers' Association yesterday afternoon the president (Mr. J. Sutherland Ross) took the opportunity of replying to some criticism of the , secondary industries voiced last week by the retiring president of. the Otago Farmers' Union (Mr. D. M'Gregor Reid).

"I do not wish to say much about the matter," said Mr. Ross, "because the primary and secondary industries are ion particularly friendly terms with each other just now, and I can only express my regret that a responsible official of one oi the large; farming interests should have touched on the matter in the way he did. I say that because, looking at some.of the northern papers, the only portion.of his speech quoted was that dealing with 'inefficiency of secondary industries.' That is not desirable. For various reasons I cannot think "that Mr. Renlt remarks were made as a result of co-operation with his executive. One reason is that the. incoming president, Mr. Revie, spoke of his desire to work in with manufacturers, and I have since been advised that there is a .wish on the part of the executive of the Farmers' Union to meet the executive of the Manufacturers' Association in . order to get closer together. We are all aiming at that end to get together and bring about more 1 co-operation' between all sections. We should not look for pqints of friction. A community can only advance if it moves forward as one' body, and not one section at the expense of another section. If I were to stand before the manufacturers and say that the farmers were only scratching the ground and not faiming properly there wouM be an outcry, from every farmer in the country. They would be quite right, because I would have no right to gay such a thing, and I protest against ' a responsible official of a fanning body, saying that the manufacturers are devoid of efficiency." ■ Mr. Ross added that he mentioned this matter because statements to which he had referred . had considerable feeling among manufacturers, and it was considered that they should not be allowed 'to pass unnoticeil." At the same time it was' very gratifying to know that with regard to the" A. and P. Association : and the .Fanners': Union there appeared to be a keen, desire to; ;'cooperatei'. and: he wished to assure, them that his association was quite willing to go haU-way .to meet them. . : '■':■