This from Karen Arnold of the NZ Herald
There were fears for the safety of Climate Change Issues Minister Nick Smith tonight as he faced a barrage of abuse from mainly irate Southland farmers at a meeting to discuss the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS).
More than 300 people from across Clutha and Southland packed the Gore venue, where it was obvious even before the meeting began that opposition to the scheme was strong.
Dr Smith struggled to give his 20-minute presentation as he was continually interrupted by hecklers. At one point it appeared the chairman, Invercargill MP Eric Roy, almost lost control of the meeting as he repeatedly yelled for order and had to stop one man from advancing toward Dr Smith.
A National Party insider told the NZ Herald organisers were concerned people could become violent and had considered calling the police.
Dr Smith told the crowd it was the 32nd presentation he had made during his nationwide road show but the first where he had been repeatedly interrupted.
Good on them.There is no need for farmers to accept this ETS. The scientific information (if you can call it that) given by MAF about enteric methane and its effect on the atmosphere is false. Farmers need to keep challenging it. The need for an ETS so that we can sell our products also false. The taking of money from farmers to give to foresters unfair. Making NZ framers the only farmers in the world to face a charge for these imaginary livestock emissions disgusting.
John Key and Nick Smith and in fact the entire party deserve nothing but contempt for this and they got it in Gore. A great example to the rest of the country. Well done.
If someone who was there could post a comment on what happened it would be great to read.
Meetings still to run are
Tauranga
Monday 19 July at 7.00pm
Call 07 5799016 for venue information
Timaru
Tuesday 20 July at 7:30pm
Call 03 6831386 for venue information
Tamaki
Thursday 22 July at 7.30pm
Call 09 5759842 for venue information
Dunedin
Monday 26 July at 7.30pm
Coronation Hall, Gordon Road, Mosgiel
For TV3 coveage of meeting click link below
http://www.3news.co.nz/Nick-Smith-gets-heated-response-from-farmers-over-ETS-/tabid/423/articleID/166176/Default.aspxclick here
Colin E McIntyre says
Great Turnout! Good old fashioned Political Meeting.The Minister was never in danger of assault as the large majority appeared to have written him and the party off.
A good speaker but needs to get more of his spin correct.As a National Party member I have not voted for them for sometime and the way they are continuing the former Governments style may well prove costly next election.
It was a insult to give a turn out of this size such a short hearing.
Colin E McIntyre says
Short coverage of Gore ETS meeting 15/7/10 on TV3 on Demand TV via the Internet.
Robin Grieve says
Thanks Colin I have put a link to the TV3 item at teh end of the post
George Allswell says
I was there. Take a bow Heartland Southlanders for you have finally exposed the festering sore that is N.Z. politics.You took their complacent road show apart and shoved it up the best place possible.
. But did you detect any sign of contrition ? Did ‘they’ lend a listening ear?
‘Doctor’ Smith is [or was] National’s secret weapon.He,being devoid of any compassion,integrity,intellect is enabled to play the unwitting role of arrogant stupidity.It is a role he plays with consummate skill.The game of politics needs him.How else did ‘they’get the E.T.S.scam through?
It is well that you did not ruffle his feathers for we have much to learn from him.
Lesson (1) Beware of the articulate incompetent.
There were many Stars in the forum all trying to penetrate the murky way that blocked entry into the Smithsonian Institute ,but,and I am sure you will agree,the star of the road show had to be the way the Great Southern Man,tutored in the wild,oblivious to the entreaties of those who elected him,acted out the role of guard dog and rutting stag with superb skill.
P.S. I wonder if ‘they’ will apply the 90 day rule to M.P.’s
Robin Grieve says
This from Neil Henderson, of Climate Realists
Really great to see Nick squirming. I like your comments George. But is he the only one devoid of intellect?
David Carter claimed in parliament that he spent three hours at the Fieldays with the PM and no one raised the issue of the ETS. And that there were only ten protesters at the opening. Well I was there. There were over ten obvious protesters wearing hi-viz vests, but I know we were surrounded by like minded people!!
I also have reports of a woolshed meeting in Marlborough where he got a hard time from many people including one very irate person. He tried to say that was the exception and the majority saw the need for the ETS or something to that effect.
But back to Nick Smith. About this time last year he was running a short series of ‘consultations’ over the emissions reduction target to take to Copenhagen. At nearly all of those meetings there was a large contingent of placard carrying, mantra chanting ‘watermelons’ sometimes brought in from outside districts. They refused to let anyone speak against their view and at least one man ‘feared for his safety’ at the Nelson meeting!! Nobody tried to stop them. How does the member for Nelson like it now the boot is on the other foot?
This shows us a real contrast. That group is rowdy, confrontational and pushes the law to, and even beyond the limit regularly.
Our group is polite, law abiding, respectful and give the police no cause for concern. What is the reward we receive? We get totally ignored by the politicians and even more significantly, by the media, so it is inevitable someone finally lights the fuse. The fire is now lit. I have heard others say it will take this and more to get the government to listen. I find it sad that they are proved right. What will it take to get Smith, who, in 2005, slammed the Labour Party for their carbon tax, saying it will add to the cost of power and fuel and then flow to everything else just like his ETS and do nothing for the climate, just like his ETS. He said then that we need to bury this lemon. If he doesn’t put his money where his mouth is his colleagues need to bury him in political oblivion. If they don’t we will very likely bury many of them at next year’s election. I know many people who are already itching to ‘tick the boxes’.
Let us keep the ball rolling at the rest of his meetings and anywhere else either Smith, Carter or Key shows up.
Regards
Neil Henderson
George Allswell says
Thanks Neil.
Smith was in robot mode and robots don’t squirm.They just rabbit on expounding his masters message and it seems that Mosgiel confirmed that.Those that did squirm were those, like Bill English,who should have been there but were not.But he will be sweating as he juggles his local hot potatoes.
Enough of Smith for he is but a tawdry,shabby,candy floss side show.
But what is going on in the big tent, the circus,which is N.Z. politics.Is it a case of elephants in a china shop taking everyone for a ride or are they a coordinated trapeze act designed to beguile and elicit applause?
Which brings me to :
Lesson [2] Beware the hidden agenda.
Lackey Smith is telling us something if we will but look behind the facade.He does not know he is a lackey even though he is number 6.
When the constabulary come out to the ‘meetings’ you know that the clobbering machine has farted and grunted into action.
P.S. I wonder if those molasses drenched lasses got a thorough licking?
P.P.S. Should I sell my shares in B.P.?