MR POLSON AND THE FARMER

Shannon News, 8 October 1929, Page 2

MR POLSON AND THE FARMER

MANAWATU COMPLIMENTS. The Manawatu provincial executive of the Farmers' Union on Saturdayexpressed regret that certain branches of the union had thought fit to complain about Mr W. J. Poison's political attitude on certain matters. "I take strong exception to this thrashing of our president," said Mr O. P. Lynch (chairman). "Mr Poison is a man who leaves his politics, religion and nationality behind when he comes to our Farmers' Union meetings. Let Mr Poison justify his own position and at next annual conference don't elect him if he is not fit for the position he holds. He is. a man who has done a lot for the farmers of New Zealand.'' Mr F. Maul (Palmerston North) thought Mr Poison had a right to ex- " press his own opinions, so long as he did riot speak in the name of the Farmers' Union. Mr J. Gloyn (Kongotea) stated that. it wa3 not the first time a Farmers' Union president had teen an M.P. and yet no exception had been taken to what they had to say in Parliament. Mr Denton (Levin) thought it was outsiders who were complaining mostiy. ■■-■..'

Mr Lynch considered the matter one for the annual conference to deal with •and not branches. Mr Poison was an .independent man. Mr Gloyn mentioned that the union had every shade of politics within its ranks. Mr Lynch thought it must be very

disappointing for Mr", Poison to find } .• branches taking up; the attitude they : ...were, especially after all he had done X :' for tlem.

Whangarei and Auckland will possibly be linked up before next winter by an "all-year round" road (reports the Auckland C;ar). Over was spent on the work last year, and during the present season T: fh proposed by the Main Highways Board to provide a substantial amouTit for further work.

At a meeting a.\ Keefton it was decided to re-open the School of Mines, it being stated that about 50 names had been handed in as intending students. It was resolved that a letter be sent to the Minister of Mines notifying him that the Council had been appointed, that the school was ready to function, and that the Council proposed to advertise for a director immediately.

Mr B. C. Jeffreys, of Gisborne, who has just returned from a holiday visit to the West Coast of the South Island, stated the other day that there is very little evidence to be seen on the West Coast of the recent earthquake which did so much damage in the Murchison district. Beyond a tin chimney hero and there he said, no traees of the upheaval were to be seen. The earthquake scare had badly affected tourist booking for the coming season, but he declared thai- he had found the West Coast—and he had travelled down as far as Franz Josef Glazier—as peaceful as any other portion of the Dominion.