FARMERS AND POLITICS

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 205, 25 May 1921, Page 4

FARMERS AND POLITICS

A CONFERENCE DISCUSSION

AND UNANIMOUS DECISION "Whether or not—the union should amend its constitution and enter the field of politics is a question this conference must face," remarked tho president (Mr* AA r . J. Polson) at the provincial gathering of farmers at Miioterton yesterday Speaking generally, he went on to point out that the present House of Parliament contained a very large number of lusu who were leading New Zealand fanners anu in many cases members of the Farmer's' Union. Probably at no time in our history had they bad a Parliament prepared to give farmers more sympathetic consideration if their aim was for the benefit of their class without injury to the community at large. But they must be careful to remember that they were only entitled to their fair share of consideration. There were farmers unfortunately who regarded their fellow-citizens in \the towns as merely parasitic; unnecessary evils resultant upon the growth of a badly-balanced social system. They forgot that the townsman played as important and necessary a part in the body politic as they did. They were interdependent upon one another, ami the town was as necessary to the iarmers’ comfort and convenience as the farmers were to the comfort and convenience of the town. An Unnecessary Fear.

Mr. Polson added that he made these reflections because there was growing up in the towns an unnecessary fear that the farmer was greedily reaching out for everything for himself, that he wished to be his own lawyer, and doctor, as well as his own merchant and auctioneer. The fact was that while in both town and country they realised the advantages of co-operation the countryman obtained under the conditions which exist more advantages than the townsman; but that situation was changing. Even the professional men had a union for the proper marketing of the product of their brains, and many of them were members of co-operative concerns for the purchasing of their goods. AA hat farmers wanted tho townsmen to realise was that what was good for farmers was good for them, that the farmers' prosperitv was their fortune, and that their interests were bound up together in the sound democratic progress of the community as a whole. Farmers needed the co-operation and assistance of the townspeople as much as they needed tho producers, and the closer the rapprochement between the two the better would both be served. SHOULD A FARMERS’ PARTY BE FORMED? CONFERENCE’S EMPHATIC ANSWER Later in the conference Mr. Polson said that the Dominion executive had asked them to consider the proposal to form a farmers’ political party. , Be would therefore ask Mr. AV. L. Grice, Feilding, to move his motion. Mr. Grice then moved the following remit from Feilding: "That the conference opposes the formation of.a farmers’ political party.” Mr. 11. E. Fletcher seconded the mq« tion. and said that they should be co» tent with the present Government. Mr. A. Buchanan, Palmerston North, said that he would support the motion. Ninety-six per cent, of the present Government were farmers, and it would only cause grave dissension among the public if farmers formed a party of their own.

Mr. Claud Smith, Brunswick, said they wanted a Reform. Party to represent all classes of the community except extreme lobour. AVere they to form a farmers’ party they would be creating a class distinction.

Mr. Hugh Morrison, Masterton, instanced Australian, politics, and the political chaos caused there by class politics. They had had experience of the question in the AVnirarana some years ago. The Farnfers’ Union had touched politics, and the result had been sad. There was nothing like facts to teach one. In New Zealand, as in Australia, the greatest population was in the towns, and until the population in the country increased, then a farmers’ party could not be successful.

Mr. H. Booth, Feilding, said he had never been in favour of party politics. He thought it better to stick to the present form of government. Mr. T. Moss, Eketahuna, said the subject had been discussed at Hie Dominion Conference. He did not know whether any delegates had heard the Auckland delegates. They thought there was no place like Auckland and its surroundings. They had to be humoured. He would support the motio-n. The formation of a farmers’ party would mean the disintegration of the Farmers’ Union. Mr. W. B. Matheson. Eketahuna, said Hie Farmers’ Union 'had always stood for tho good of all the community. Their sympathies were with Capital, because they were capitalists—and so was every man who had a few pounds put away. No doubt the proposal that they might form a. small party to gather the plums was attractive, but it would not work out in practice. Mr. Gregor M'Gregor said they had no definite method of electing their representatives —at present they swayed between Reformers and Liberals. He would sunport the motion, but he felt that jn the future there plight l>e a necessity for the farmers combining politically.

Mr. F. IV. Hubbard. Palmerston North, said i,hat they had heard opin. ions that the present Government was good enough for the farmers. Perhaps Wore they had finished consideration of the remits before them they might alter their previous opinions. (Laughter.) However, he would support the motion. The motion was carried unanimously.