Shadders wades in

And so do I.

Feds president showed courage

I was in the room when Federated Farmers members booed their president and then walked out when he said he supported Environment Southland's new dairy rule.

  They were wrong to do that, in my opinion.

  Mr Gardyne began his presentation by saying he was surprised that dairy farmers were at the meeting to oppose a new policy that would "secure their future, and improve the community perception of their industry."

  I don't think jeering and leaving the room before Mr Gardyne had a chance to have his say was a good way to give the federation the "moral authority" it had been hoping to gain from the meeting.

  I found his presentation to be balanced and reasonable and admired his courage.

ROBERT GUYTON

Riverton

Not Bill English

Ali Timms, Environment Southland chairman, has not addressed her admonishments (in today's Southland Times) to this man, Conor English, Federated Farmers CEO, but to his brother, Bill English, Deputy Prime Minister. English went into bat for the federation following the grumpy walkout by federation members, who couldn't bear to hear the contrary opinion of their chairman, Hugh Gardyne speaking in the ES boardroom last week. English makes claims on behalf of the Federated Farmers, despite not being their CEO, claims that Timms quite rightly disputes. Perhaps English's claims to the Times were in fact, English's and the otherwise attentive Mr Tulett mixed the Christian names inadvertently, who can say? "Could the real Mr English come forward", I can almost here people say, "we're feeling a little bamboozled!"

*  Prior to this appointment Mr English was Commercial Director and second-in-charge of The Property Group, a consultancy with 80 staff. He is the former chief executive officer of the New Zealand Property Institute and has had roles in other lobby groups and in the Beehive.

"Disgraceful!"

That was my comment as the Farmers of the Federation turned their backs on their president, walked out as he began his address and booed when he said he supported the new rule.
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