FARMERS' UNION AND POLITICS.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 487, 21 April 1909, Page 6

FARMERS' UNION AND POLITICS.

. The decision of thp chairman of tho Kimbolton branch of tho Farmers' Union to resign his lhombership of 'that body on the ground that it had become a political body shows a lamentable incapacity on his. part to .see things steadily and see them whole. Mr. Crabbe objected at 1 the annual meeting of the branch that-"right throughout the weight of tho Union, during the election had been'thrown on the Bide of one political, party, and he could or ly come to the conclusion that it was, to! all . intents and purposes, a , party organisation. That being so', as a member of the Liberal party, he. felt that ho w;is in a false position, and therefore begged to tender his resignation as a member." It is quite true that the Farmers' Union is, and should be, in a large measure, a political body. The farming industry, which; is the main foundation of ,the country, is peculiarly capable of receiving injury from ignorant, or ; unsympathetic legislation.. Tho Socialists, the Labour party, and other politicians of tho city unfamiliar with, or indifferent to, the interests of the country settlers, do not hesitate to put.forward proposals for legislation which would press heavily on' that industry. The extreme Socialists would confiscate the land of tho free farmer, and the Labour party would impose restrictions, like those which they attempted, through the : • Conciliation Board, to put upon the farmers of Canterbury, which would make the calling of the . agriculturist , unendurable. Both these' parties are . well organised, and attempt to further; their projects by poli- •• tieal means.- There are also: to be considered the city politicians who, knowing little of the farmer's problems, tend inevitably to be rushed towards destructive measures by the zealots named.: To combat , these influences, which menace, - ihe ,very foundations of the chief productive power of the country, it is imperative that the farmers should combine and act politically, after the example of their opponents. - The farmers': Union' must ]pe a political body, in sb far that it supports those candidates ; for • Parliament whose views arc favourable to agricultural interests. But a distinction here comes.in, which Mr. Crabbe should have been "able to see. • Though it must be a political body, in the general sense,, tho Farmers' Union need, not be,v and it has never been, a. political body in tho party sense. The Union has ncvor supported • or.' opposed Parliamentary 1 candidates because they have belonged 1 to: one or other of tho main divisions in tho House. It has simply and , naturally : supported those candidates who ■ wero acquainted with the needs of farmers, and could bo 'trusted to ; defend- thom, as far as possible,: from suchv political.; influences -in the State as are o'ppose'd to-the well-being of the farming industry. In several cases the Union' has put up as Parliamentary candidatesvmembers from its own ranks, who aro peculiarly conversant with farming; needs, -and they have in some cases beon elected. It has also, vory naturally, and without further political causo, supported candidates who wero opposed' to the extension of the leasehold policy. Into theso considerations the party aspect, in a political sense, has not entered. The political policy of tfie combined farmers has beon, and is,, no more than.the policy of self-preservation, which ante-dates and over-weigha all party systems. : £;■'