FARMERS AND POLITICS

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 149, 19 March 1919, Page 10

FARMERS AND POLITICS

. PROPOSAL £rom waikato. The question of forming a Farmers' Political Party was discussed by the executive of the Waikato sub-provincial district of the Farmers' Union at Hamilton on Friday. In moving that the executive consider tho question of forming a Farmers' Political Party, Mr 1? 'D. Duxficld said he had formerly thought there was no need for a farmers' political party?, but his views had changed, and now agreed that those who had advocated the formation of such a party were right. It was no. use sending men to Parliament who would pull lioth ways, as so many members wcro doing at present. Candidates promised all sorts of things, but as soon as they got into the House they appeared to go to sleep. At one time, to have touched anything in regard to politics - would havo damned the union, but times had changed. There was a better understanding among farmers; they were not so suspicious of each other, and had learned that their interests were identical. They could, therefore, now launch out, and form a strong and active party in politics. Unless they did this, tho resolutions passed by them would have little result. Ho had recently attended a conference of about 200 farmers-nt Whangaroi, and hod been impressed bv the viows expressed there in favour of entering politics. They should ,not w»d themselves to either party, but should draw up a platform of fundamental requirements which they could submit to candidates. They should not obscure their views and aims, or tie- down their representatives too stringently nr. minor matters. One of their cardinal planks should 'be in regard to the fixtim- of prices. The fixing of prices for wheat, butter, etc., had met.with disaster, and had satisfied no ono. They were against tho fixing of prices, for'they did not want interference with the natural law of supply and domand. Tho question of the maintenance of tho main arterial roads might bo another plank in the farmers' platform. When the platform was drawn up, they could submit it to candidates, nnd support only those who promised to endeavour to carry it out. New Zealand had, taken ,the lead in organising •''farmers';"but was now falling ■behind. In Australia a Farmers' Union candidate had recently defeated a Labour candidate. Ho was not advocating a .party aggressive to tho other sections

of tho community. The people of the Dominion relied on tho land, and in studying their own interests the farmers were, considering tho interests of' every section of the community. Tho position of politics in New Zealand to-day was very unsatisfactory. They had tho same taihoa policy in Tegard to Native lands as that which prevailed twenty years, ago. They had members in the House who had expressed the most revolutionary views. It was time tho farmers wero up and doing.

The matter was fully discussed, practically ovory spenkor being in favour of tho proposal. It seemed to be generally recognised thnt if the farmers' interests were to be safeguarded, a political party must be formed.

The motion. was carried, and will bo submitted to the next conference.

It was further resolved that it bo an instruction to the Advisory Board to formulate a platform for the proposed party, and Btibmit it to the next meeting.