Wednesday, 29 January 2025 11:15

Times have changed

Written by The Hound

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OPINION: Back in the 1960s and '70s, and even into the '80s, successive National government Agriculture Ministers and Trade Ministers were at the top of the cabinet rankings.

People like Duncan MacIntyre, a farmer and war hero, were close to the top and, at one stage, MacIntyre was deputy Pm.

But after the Muldoon era, both Labour and National have pushed the ag portfolio well down the pecking order, and as we see in the PM's latest cabinet reshuffle, Todd McClay is ranked 10th out of 13 - just above the Minister for Mental Health and well above Ministers with responsibility for the arts, hospitality, the public service, prisons and universities.

How times have changed.

National is often considered 'the farmers' party', so should farmers feel aggrieved that the person representing their efforts in earning the bulk of our export revenue is treated like this?

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