Farmers' Union Controversy.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 8, Issue 473, 13 May 1919, Page 2

Farmers' Union Controversy.

(To the Editor.) Bib,—This controversy serins to have given thar stir to the Farmers Union that was necessary to lift it out of the decline it had got into. Re Mr Johns: I have not, to my knowledge, met this pugnacious gentleman. He misleads the publio into believing that he knows ma very well. His bitter and unbalanced attack is unworthy of the position he holds as a Vice president. Mr Johns has taken for granted the misleading statements contained in Mr OlJfield'a letter. They were so childish and incorrect that I did not take tha trouble to deny them, knowing that no broad-minded man would credit them. But there is another class (and, unfortunately, the Executive contain* at least one of that class) that the type of letter written by Mr Oldfield appeals to. Is this the same Mr Johns who applied for the position of Organising Secretary | when the sub-provincial area was i first started ? If so, the old resident farmers win made the selection knew him, for he did not get the position. Evidently he is out for a cheap advertisement, in case the subprovincial area should want another organiser. If he applies he will be, as before, " also started." Mr Johns says that "anger is the thief of common-sense. I thank him for paying me the compliment of having common-sense. Judging by his letter, it is an ingredient which has evidently been omitted from his character. I hope before he wiites again he will have completed his education on the broader lines he suggests. He Mr Mellsop's letter : It i 9 so splendidly taotful that one can sso by it why the sub-provincial area has be able to hang out so long, and it is a pity that he or Vice-president Frost did not v<sit the branches, and make the same open statements, •specially regarding politics, that is contained in his letter. There would not be to-day a rumour current that several of the members and branches are seceding. Mr Wily's statements are substantially correct, and I can endorse what he says. The ink was hardly dry on your paper which contained my first letter when a member of the Buckland branch told me he was resigning, and very shortly afterwards another told me he was leaving. Mr Hamilton met me, and told me he would strongly oppose the acceptance of our resignations. And members of other branches have expressed the opinion that we did the right thing in resigning, and to bring the Union out of the unpopular rut it had got into by allowing its platform to be violated. I hope the Executive will soon put its house in order Thanking you in anticipation. Yours, eto, J. B. SIM.