FARMERS’ UNION AND POLITICS

Press, Volume LXXIX, Issue 23969, 9 June 1943, Page 5

FARMERS’ UNION AND POLITICS

VIEWS OF SOUTH CANTERBURY

PRESIDENT

The opinion that the entry of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union into politics would ultimately do the' union more harm than good, was expressed by the president (Mr L. V. Talbot) in his address at the annual conference of the South Canterbury Executive of the Farmers’ Union yesterday. He added that to enter party politics was to embark on a long voyage on a stormy sea. with shimvrcc': at the end. Mr laibot said that the election proposed for this year should not be postponed, as an election would show the’trend of the people’s opinion, and this knowledge should be obtained. The question whether the Farmers’ Union should enter the political field would be decided at the next Dominion conference, continued Mr Talbot. In the North Island opinions were in favour of such an action, he said, as it was considered that primary producers did not receive justice between two powerful interests—labour, as controlled by the Federation of Labour on one hand, and commercial and manufacturing interests on the other. The result of these interests taking what they considered they were entitled to from the economic life of the farmers was shown in a lower standard of living for country men and women, said Mr Talbot. Infectious Diseases.—Six cases of tuberculosis and four cases of scarlet fever were reported in the Canterbury health district up to Monday. On the West Coast there were eight cases of diphtheria.