COUNTRY PARTY ATTACKED.

Putaruru Press, Volume VI, Issue 253, 6 September 1928, Page 3

COUNTRY PARTY ATTACKED.

BY HON. A. D. McLEOD. Funds From Farmers’ Union. Captain Colbeck Refutes Statements. A straight-from-the-shoulder attack on the Country Party was made by the Hon. A. D. McLeod, Minister of Lands, at a largely attended meeting at Waitoa on Monday evening. Strong exception to some of the Minister’s remarks was taken by Captain Colbeck (Morrinsville), who was a constant interjector and was several times called to order by the chairman (Mr. W. R. Lowry). In opening his remarks Mr. McLeod said he had been informed that that Country Party had a considerable hold in and around the Waitoa district, so he had decided to confine his address largely to answering and exposing the propaganda being used by that party in the district and elsewhere in opposition to the party and Government.

“ It has been said that I object to executive officers or members of the Farmers’ Union entering politics, although I myself am a member of the Union and a Minister of the Crown in the Government party,” said the Minister. “ For me to make such an objection would of course be nonsensical. What I have objected to, how- ] ever, and had used my vote against | for the past thirty years, is the union as a union entering intd party poli- I tics, for the reason that apart from i such a course destroying the union, it would have the effect of isolating into a political group sections of the primary’ producers who would have little or no real power in the directing of a country’s political actions. Such , has been the case in Australia, where the first effect was to place a Labour Government in power, not only in the Commonwealth Parliament," but also in almost all the State Parliaments. Labour, as had been proved in Australia, can become as predatory in its objectives against all ether sections of a community as can trusts or governments ruled cr directed entirely by capitalistic influences.” The Minister said what he did take exception to was the funds of the union being used for party’ politics; that is, in the interests of the Country Party’. Mr. Colbeck: Nonsense.

The Minister: I can prove that organisers paid by’ the Farmers’ Union have been publishing Country’ Party

propaganda. Mr. Colbeck: Nothing of the sort. Utter nonsense. The Minister: I can produce scores of letters from electors in every electorate affected. Captain Colbeck: They have been pulling your leg. The Minister: Perhaps the Captain knows little of what is going on. Captain Colbeck: I know as much as y’ou do. The Minister referred to an understanding which he alleged existed between the Country and Labour parties regarding the contesting of seats, which was refuted by Captain Colbeck. Continuing, the Minister said that

the best way to wreck the union was to get into party politics. The speaker said he had no quarrel with the president of the Farmers* Union (Mr. Poison), but was of the opinion that he spoke with his tongue in his cheek when he said he was opposed to the .pnioil entering into politicsWhy, Mr. Poison had attended a meeting to select a Country Party candidate in the Rotorua electorate. \ The speaker stated the name of the organiser he had referred to earlier in his address was Mr. McAlpine. Captain Colbeck said this was nßt so. ' The Minister said he would stand to his statement. Mr. McAlpine was being paid by the union and was spreading Country Party propaganda. He had been doing so in the speaker’s electorate.

Captain Colbeck: I have no doubt he would be closely watched in the Wairarapa. (Laughter). Mr. McLeod appealed for a closer understanding between the union and the Government of the day to their mutual advantage. Since the Dominion conference of the union delegates had spoken to him and had said that by ignoring the conference the Government was doing itself no good. The fact was that no invitation had been extended to the Cabinet. Further, he maintained that this was done deliberately . Captain Colbeck: Nothing of the sort. I have been to conferences for 30 years and invitations are never extended except on special occasions. The chairman called Captain Colbeck to order.

Mr. McLeod: Oh, I don’t mind. I agree to differ with Captain Colbeck. Resolutions had been passed by the farmers favouring an agricultural bank, but they did not know what they were asking, said Mr. McLeod. No better system of lending existed in the world than the State Advances. It had been suggested that the Government stood in the way of the formation of an agricultural bank. He denied that and challenged anyone to prove the statement. Captain Colbeck: It is the manner of administration that is objected to. There is only one. farmer on the board. The Minister opined that no Labour Party candidate would be "in opposition to any Country Party candidate in the Waikato electorate or anywhere else, a statement that was challenged by Captain Colbeck. The Minister then reverted to other topics.