“NO REASON FOR RUNNING”

Wairarapa Times-Age, 27 May 1938, Page 8

“NO REASON FOR RUNNING”

MR SAVAGE AND FARMERS’ CONFERENCE. REFERENCE TO STATEMENT BY -DELEGATE. (By Telegraph—Press Association). WELLINGTON, This Day. Reference to a statement by Mr J. H. Furniss at the inter-provincial conference of the Farmers’ Union at Wellington on Wednesday was made yesterday by the Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon. M. J. Savage. Mr Furniss is a member of the Dominion executive of the union. “During his address to the Farmers’ Union conference, Mr Furniss is reported to have said that my presence at the conference was an indication that the Government was on the run, because of the alleged aggressive attitude of some members of the Farmers’ Union,” said Mr Savage. “For the benefit of Mi’ Furniss, and others who may be misled by his statement, I desire to make is known that I attended the conference at the invitation of those who were responsible for the conference, for the purpose of performing the opening ceremony. “I was received by the delegates with the utmost courtesy, and I see no reason for running—even after having read Mr Furniss’s ijemarks. “ I have told the farmers on many occasions, prior to the last general election and since,” continued the Prime Minister, “that they were entitled to an equitable share of the total production of the Dominion from all sources, whatever overseas prices may be like. That Is in line with the policy of the Government, and we will live up to it. And the duty of any tribunal that may be appointed will be to decide what the share is to be after having taken all relevant factors into consideration.”