PARTY POLITICS

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 216, 31 May 1918, Page 8

PARTY POLITICS

FARMERS' UNION ATTITUDE. At the Wellington. Farmers' "Union Conference at Masterton tho Whakaronga delegate mo«d that the minute that the body .should bo non-political be rescinded, as tho timo had now arrived when the union should take up a political stand in the affairs of the Dominion. The delegate pointed out that when tho farmcrs took a definite political stand in Canada they were enabled to sway the elections. The- unions should have representatives in Parliament to fight its Battles.

Mr. J. A. H'Leavey (Palmerston North) seconded.

Mr. W. B. Matheson (Eketahuna) said it was impossible for the union to dissociate itself from politics. It wag asserted at one timo that the union was a party machine, but during .his long associated with the Executive Committee he.had seen nothing that could be, construed t» this meaning. The union was going along on solid lines and its policy should not be disturbed. The liaetihi delegate! opposed the motion. He said that immediately they introduced party politics thero would be a big split. Mr. Mooro (Makuri) stated, that they were doing good service on the existing lines. Mr.-TV.Moss (Eketahuna) pointed out that there was no need for the resolution, aH no minute existed to rescind. Mr, Hugh Morrison (Masterton) strongly urged the union to give party politics a wide berth; Party politics was a curse to any country. If the conference wanted to kill the union in this district, then it coald adopt /no better means than by introducing party politics. He instanced the fate of one branch in his district that had onco discussed which political candidate it would support. That was the end of the branch.'.. Several other delegates spoke strongly against the introduction of party politics, and the remit was withdrawn.