FARMERS’ POLITICS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2125, 6 July 1907, Page 2

FARMERS’ POLITICS.

ATTITUDE OF FARMERS’ UNION. Press Association. WELLINGTON, last night. At the Farmers’ Union Conference Mr. W. L. Clayton, Poverty Bay, moved: “That this Union adopt a stronged united political attitude, although not necessarily a party attitude, as this is the only way in which its influence caji be made manifest.” The mover said the Union boro all the discredit but enjoyed none of the advantages of being a political organisation. They were ridiculed because people thought they had not backbone to fight. They must cease to he mere trimmers.

Captain Bell. Waikato, said ho felt certain the Union would never be .- power until it took a pronounced at titude. Tho time had arrived to take the gloves off. The absolute futilipy of their efforts was duo to the fa that they had not taken a political stand.

Mr. Jones, Canterbury, defended the Union’s past: attitude. The man who said they left political questions alone must have been in a trance. Tiie strength of the Union was in the fact that it had never tacked itself t any political party. Mr. J. C. Cooper said they could claim that there organisation was responsible for the fact that there was now a majority of freeholders in the House.

After further discussion the motion was defeated by 11 votes to 4.