FARMERS' PARTY.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 930, 24 September 1910, Page 7

FARMERS' PARTY.

. : HOLDING THE BALANCE OF ■ POWER. /- (By Telegraph.—Press Association.! . Auckland, September 23; The' latest activity: on the part of the Farmers' .Union..is the formation of, a :political, party, to be known: as the Farmers'; Party. Tho proposal was first 1 made j bythe 7 Auckland Executive. When it was sent to the Dominion-Con-ference-as a remit- some diversity of opinion was expressed 'by'the delegates, and it was objected to by some that there was insufficient information before the conference as to the objects of the proposed party. The oonference, there•fore, asked the Auckland Executive, to formulate its proposal more fully. At a meeting of the oxecutivo a circular explaining the objects of the proposed party was adopted.' The circular stated, that -it is not desired: or proposed that the fanners of New Zealand should attempt to' elect ;and. send to Parliament members. on the, same footing as thoso of the present reiioguised parties, Liberals and Conservatives, or even, as the smaller Labour party does, inasmuch as the objective of. the, parties, is to obtain such a majority; that they can form an ■ executive to.'carry on the whole public business of tho Dominion-in accordance with their; political views. The New -Zealand Farmers' Union had always laid; down the positive rule that party -politics are absolutely'-barred .in the debates- or decisions of the union, and, therefore, in the Farmers' Union are found many strong and 6taunch supporters of each party at present in Parliament. The Farmers' Party it is now desired to form is a combination which has for its object the return to. Parliament of members for country constituencies who: ' (1) Are bona fido members of the Farmers' Union, and unreservedly accept ;tho platform' of the union.' '(2) Havo a competent knowledge Of tho needs and interests: of tho , agrioulturar community. (3) Will/engage themselves: specially to watch all proposed legislation which will affect tho farmers or the man on the land, and .'bind, themselves to vote unitedly for or against such, legislation,; independently and in ontire disregard of how it affects the status'of the recognised political'parties at present in Parliament, or the _fate of any Ministry. Mr. Dusfield said that the . proposal looked very well, but the members elected as members of the Farmers' Party would havo to have a great deal of backbone to hold thoir position midway between ..tho two present leading parties. - . - Mr. - Montgomerio said that as, tho party gained strength it would be able to hold, tho balanco of power -in Par-liament,-,-and decide the fate of other parties." ; ' Dr. Ross said the idea wont as far as they could very well go at- present, but, no doubt some day the party might bo-bo strong as to bo able to form a Ministry of its own.

It was decided to forward a copy of the circular to all other .unions. .