CLAIM DENIED

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 744, 17 August 1929, Page 9

CLAIM DENIED

NOT FARMERS’ VOICE

MR. W. J. POLSON CRITICISED

(The SUN’S Parliamentary Reporter) WELLINGTON. Friday.

The claim by Mr. W. J. Poison (Stratford), who is president of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union, that he represents the farmers of the country in the House of Representatives was strongly contradicted this afternoon by Mr. W. L. Martin (Raglan) in his Budget speech. Referring to Mr. Poison’s claim. Mr. Martin said: "He no more represents the farmers than I do. He has no mandate from the Farmers’ Union —” There were cries of “Hear, hear.” Mr. Martin said that he knew that Mr. Poison was president of the union, and congratulated him on that position, but as a member of the Farmers’ Union he was not prepared to support the views Mr. Poison had expressed in the House. The speaker had protested against his sentiments at farmers’ conferences, and he had nothing to regret and nothing to withdraw.

Mr. Poison had misrepresented the Labour Party on the question of taxation, and though corrected had persisted in not stating the position correctly. More than once Mr. Martin had had occasion to challenge Mr. Poison on the same question. Mr. E. J. Howard (Christchurch South): It is a habit of his, then? Mr. Martin: Certainly. He has persistently misrepresented the Labour Party at conferences of the Farmers’ Union. A voice from the Reform benches: Well, why don’t you put him out? Mr. Martin said that the questioner was a member of the Farmers’ Union, and then was called to order. He concluded by saying that he hoped it would be unnecessary to call attention to the fact that Mr. Poison did not represent the farmers in Parliament.