FARMERS AND POLITICS.
THE FREEHOLD CAMPAIGN.
"I am sure the union is as desirous as ever to work with the Government in. power, wherever possible, in. the interests of the farming community,"" said Mr. ■1. G. Wilson in. his presidential address nt the opening of tho annuul Dominion Conference of the. New Zealand Farmers' U nic 1. Continuing, the address referred to the fact that Mr. Massoy had retained the portfolio of Agriculturo himself aud lie (the speaker) felt sure that as a farmer himself Mr. Massey would give this portion of his dutie.3 special attention. Mr. Mackenzie, who had just laid down tja portfolio, had' bean, with the help of his officers, doing good work. Mr. .Wilson added that he .wished, however, that there was greater permanency of control, but that might come.
Towards' the closo of his speech Mr. again touched on. politics when 10 said;— , "When we look aTound we see signs that the farmer is thinking and once wo can influence the pressure of public opinion. we have done a great deal. We see it. in the increased number of farmers' representatives in Parliament. You know that I do not desire to speak of party politics, but to me it was most significant that Mr. Mackenzie was chosen as leader of tho Government in February last in preference to Messrs. Millar and Laurenson—both leaseholders—he was a pronounced freeholder and has attended most of our conferences, has even spoken 011 the freehold question under our auspices, and, again at last election ho pledged himself, to it. Ho has been defeated in the House and again a Farmers' Union man is in tho lead, a pronounced freeholder; one who has pledged himself up to the hilt (and we know him as a man of his word), and a majority of tho House are pledged to the freehold— nay, more, four men have given their support on this very ground, who wero not .-previously Mr. .Massey's supporters. . Is it not fair to assume that our freehold campaign, has been successful, 'although it still requires an Act of Parliament to make it completely so, but this I fully hope will bo one of tho first measures . passed by the new Parliament." •
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Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1506, 31 July 1912, Page 5
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371FARMERS AND POLITICS. Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1506, 31 July 1912, Page 5
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