STOCK FOODS

Otago Witness, Issue 4029, 2 June 1931, Page 7

STOCK FOODS

QUESTION OF PERMITTING DUTY MR POLSON’S ATTITUDE. STRATFORD, May 26. A statement by the Leader of the Opposition (Mr J. G. Coates) z in the Hauraki campaign that Mr W. J. Polson, M.P. (president of the Farmers’ Union), was not keen on having animal foods admitted duty free to New Zealand was challenged by Mr Polson, who said that he had always urged the free admission of all stock food. “ Hansard discloses,” said Mr Polson, “ that when Mr Coates moved the amendment referred to I said I hoped that it was a genuine attempt to relieve the stock breeder and the farmer. If the Leader of the Opposition would include in his amendment the freeing of fowl wheat and wheat for the stock breeder! I would vote for it, but if it dealt merely with the trifling question of linseed meal it was not worth while, for it was not of great importance to the farmers. I voted for the amendment as a matter of principle. During the same session I also supported a recommendation by the Agricultural Stock Committee, of which I was a member, urging that stock foods should be admitted free, and I drew the fire of a number of southern members, several of whom are Reform supporters, who talked the motion out. Mr Coates did not raise his voice in support of the report or to restrain the objector. It was Mr Coates who was not keen.”