FARMERS’ UNION AND POLITICS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XIX, Issue 1573, 2 October 1905, Page 2

FARMERS’ UNION AND POLITICS.

SHOULD A CANDIDATE BE SELECTED ?

The question of tho selection of a Parliamentary candidate occupied the minds of the members of the Gisborne branch of the Farmers’ Union on Saturday afternoon, and there appeared to be a considerable diversity of opinion as to wbat position the Union should take up. Mr W. D. Lysnar presided. The meeting was called to consider the Provincial Executive’s letter requesting tbe branch to convene a meeting of delegates from other branohes to discuss wbat questions should be put to Parliamentary candidates. The Chairman said that only three questions could be asked tbe oandidate, two by the Colonial Conference and the third, of local importance, by the Provincial Executive. After these questions were answered tbe delegates met to seleot the candidate most favorable to their views. Mr Lysnar read the following recommendation from the branch’s committee : “ That the committea would suggest that steps be taken to get tbe country branohes to appoint delegates, and so soon as the questions are suited that their delegates should be thereafter called together to arrauge for tbe questions being asked the several candidates." Mr Liddle seconded tbe motion.

Mr P. Kenway proposed the following amendment, “ That the branch aots ou the suggestions contained in the circular, and that a meeting of delegates be called for October 11th, Mr Holden to be the delogate from the Gisborae branch.” Tbo amendment on being put to the meeting was lost, and Mr Birrell moved •' That iu tho opinion of this mooting tho time is not opportune for the Union to take any part in party politios.” He ooneidered that the greatest care required to be exercised, or olse they would find they were doing something which would endanger the position of the Union. He desired to see fair ploy to each candidate. “In my opinion this is nothing bnt an effort to resurrect the National Ass," added Mr Birrell. " You are trying to hring him to life again, and I can almost hear his bray a long way off." He considered that the Union was not inoreosing

in strength as it should be doing, but was going back. Some of tho branches were extinct, Ormond was dead as Mr Caesar could inform them. Mr Caesar: That is not so.

Mr Birrell: Well, there is no money coming from it. Other branches are in a similar position. Mr 0. J. Parker thought Mr Birrell was travelling outside the matter before tbe meeting. Me Walsh seoonded the amendment.

Mr Kenway : I should like to cordially agree with Mr Birrell, We do not want to enter into patty politics. Mr Parker: If you rub us out as a political power then we might as well stay at home.

Mr McLeod: The whole idea is to put gaestions to the candidates selected. I should like to see tbe deiogates ealied together and select a candidate. The Chairman: Once you make a selection of a candidate you briDg party politics iD. Mr Caesar: Not necessarily.

The Chairman : All the candidates out aro one way or the other. The amendment on beiDg put was lost by a large majority. The motion adopting the committee’s repo t was then put end carried. Mr W. D. Lysnar was selected as the delegate from the Gisborne branch. On tho motion of Mr Birrell it was decided that when tbe Colonial Executive’s two questions beoame known the different branches should be asked to euggest upon what subject the third question shall be before the Provincial Executive makes its seleotion iu terms of the Colonial Executives cuoular, % ..