AUCKLAND PROVINCIAL CONFERENCE.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 827, 27 May 1910, Page 10

AUCKLAND PROVINCIAL CONFERENCE.

A "FARMERS' PARTY" APPROVED. •: (By Telegraph-Press Association.) Auckland, May 26. At to-day's Auckland Provincial Con--1 . ,'erenco of the New. Zealand Farmers' Union, Captain Colbeck, representing the Clevedon. branch, moved, "That a Farmers' party be formed.'/ They were told, he said, that they had representation in Parliament;'. .It was true that 24 farmers were members of the House of Representatives, but unfortunately 12 wero on the Government iide, and 12 on the Opposition. "It ;eems to me," said Captain Colbeck, "that the farmers in tho Houso are ' not worth a rap to us. They aro tied by party, and you have only to look at the legislation of the last five years to' know it. The Salo and Importation of Machinery Act is one of the most extraordinary measures ever put through the House. We want to run our own candidates. A man is politically what he is born. . Liberals aro Liberals from birth, and Tories are Tories from birth. Tho only way to get the farmers to vote solidly is to bring forward candidates who are neither Govornment nor Opposition. What we want is a Farmers' party." Mr. J'. S. Montgomorio (Mangcre) said ho was convinced that a Farmors' party was an actual necessity. Mr. J. S. Wilson (Auckland) said ho was satisfied that tho farmers' interests were keenly watched in Parliament by the Opposition. Sir. Ross said tho farmers were well represented, but tho trouble was that the farmers never knew what thc.v wanted. Captain Colbeck, in the course of his reply, said the discussion had but.", a saddening one. . Ho took it that they had no politics and no sense. It was a fareo to say that the farmers wero well represented. He wanted to see the union fighting for its own principles. Tho motion was carried. By the Wnrrimoo to-day, Messrs. Dalgety and Co. are forwarding a shipment of 52 stud Lincoln rams to Sydney on behalf of Mr. W. H. Wybourno, of ELslea, Wavcrley. The sheep aro to be offered at the stud sales at Sydney. In speaking at the Farmers' Union Conference at Marton, Mr. J. Fowler, the provincial organiser, said he had been represented ns advising branches of the union not to hold meetings frequently.- This was not quite correct. His suggestion was not to call meetings without having some definite matter to discuss. It was very disappointing for farmers, alter having come long ■ distances to attend a meeting, to find that no ono had any business f<> bring forward.