WELLINGTON NOTES

Hokitika Guardian, 17 October 1923, Page 1

WELLINGTON NOTES

BOARD CONTROL. FRIENDS FALL OUT. [Special To The Guardian.] WELLINGTON. Oct. 15. Mr W. J. Poison, the president of the Fanners’ Union, whom no one will suspect of lining biased against board control, has been moved to protest very strongly against the method in which the Meat Board is handling the difficulty that has arisen in connection with the poverty Bay Farmers’ Freezing Company. In a letter he addressed to the “Dominion” on Saturday lie castigated the chairman of the Board in terms that gentleman can hardly have expected from an ally who lmd given him such valuable assistance in the promotion of “compulsory co-oi>era-tion.” “I lmvo hesitated to reply to the rejoinder of .Mr David Jones in reference to the acquisition of New Zealand meat works by overseas concerns for two reasons,” ho wrote “First, because .Mr Jones attempted to reduce a discussion on principles to the level of a political controversy; second, because it seems to me that Mr Jones has completely answered himself and given such extraordinary proof of ins inconsistency and evasiveness as to make his reply merely ridiculous.” Criticism of this kind, whether justified or not. would be particularly distasteful to Mr .Tones since his prominence in the commercial world is largely due to his party services while indecision and evasion are his pet abominations. IN SORROW AND ANGER.

But Mr Poison does not stop with these pointed allusions to his friend’s fall from grace. “Let me say in conclusion,” he adds after discussing the whole position, “that since its formation the Board has bail nothing but sympathetic support from myself in common with many other producers. Or. more than one occasion I have withstood pressure brought to bear on me to attack the Board over matters which I will not discuss here. But inconsistency of so grave a nature as this volte-face over Yestv and Co. 1 personally cannot overlook. I must confess also that Air .Tones’ extraordinary attempt at justification in the matter under review is not calculated to strengthen the reputation of the Board.” If one may credit one half ol what has been said concerning the Board by its critics since it landed into its present trouble, Mr Poison has been exercising a good deal oi restraint in holding his peace. One matter of very frequent remark is that one or two of tlio members of the Board arc largely interested in freezing companies as slmdeholdors and directors. No one has suggested that these gentlemen have been guilty of any impropriety, lint their early access to inside information seems to give them an unfair advantage over their rivals. AGRICULTURE IN NEW ZEALAND. Air F. R. Smith, the representative of Agriculture in the British Oversea'Settlement Delegation returned to Wellington in the week-end, alter a comprehensive tour through the North Island. much impressed bv what he had seen of New Zealand tanning and its results. Of course a visit to the Development Farm at Ruakura was included in his itinerary and judging from his high eulogy of the work being done at the place it is likely to remain with him as a pleasant memory for a long time. Ho was delighted with tho manner in which the farm was laid oui. with the skill and thoroughness of the management. He brought away the conviction that it was r. national asset of great value. Afr Smith was astonished at the high prices paid for land in parts of tho Dominion, and still more astonished by the fact that farmers made such land pay. The. explanation lie found In the fact that New Zealand’s splendid climate anuthe fruitfulness of much of its soil made up in great measure for the country s great distance from the world’s markets. The vistor loft for the South UImul on Saturday, night. the POLITICAL PARTIES. When Mr !!. Holland, the leader ol i In- I.aimin' Party, tobl one of Ins audiences the other night that the Prime Minister had'gone to London and the leader of the Liberal Opposition to Hong Kong.” leaving hint to look alter the Dominion, there was a deepin humour in his statement than most o! lm- audience suspected. Neither 1. 1 l>o leaders of the older parties appears to 1„, ooneerning himself a great deal about the future from a party poml ol view Air Alassey has warned los supporters to 1: • rea.lv lor a general election in August next, and has appointed a new organiser for hi- parly, hut hevolid this he seem-: to have done nothing to revive the enthusiasm ot his depleted forces. Mr Willord i> n'staider his vigorous campaign ol last veer, and there are iudieat ions ol t Inbrass mowing under his left. Ah' Holland. on the oilier hand, is looking after the country, m one sense, very assiduously, and people, entitled D\ knowledge and oli-crvatinn to speak on this subject .declare that los parly is gradually increasing in strength. 0 this reaily is the .as,- .1 is unite |av,il,]e labour may he m a position to dictate terms to eitlu-r ol the 1,11 "' 1 parties a ywa^hen^^^^^^