FARMERS & POLITICS

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 152, 15 July 1937, Page 10

FARMERS & POLITICS

Press Association.)

Will Union Remain Non-Party? S0C1ALISM 0PP0SED

(By Telegraph—

I WFLLINGTOK, Last Nighfc. ' The attitude of the Kew Zealand Farmers ' Union toward party politics was discussed &t the Dominion Conference following the address of tho president who suggested as possible alternatives to the union 's present non-party attitttde the formation of a Farmers' Party or afiiliation with the National Party. Mr. H. E, Mellsop (Auckland) said he believed the union shottld keep apart from party politics and- reserve the right to approve or criticise individual measures put forward by any party. He moved: "That it should be a plank In the union 's platform that no part should he taken in party politics.,' Seconding the motion, Mr. A. E. Robinson (Auckland) said the union had always reserved the right to criticise or to give wholehearted support to any measure brought down by any party. Mr. W. J, Polsoa said the proseut rule adequately m*t the situation, Mr. W. A. Sheat (South Taranaki) said Mr, Mellsop 's motibn was in dii'ect conflict W4th the flrst clause of plank 1 in the union 's proposed platform. The clause Was: ".The Farmers' Union is opposed to State ownership and control of the means of production, distribution and exchange." That, Said Mr. Sheat, Was -in direct oppositidn to the policy of the present Government. Mr. Mulholland (president) said the fact that the nnion's platform conflicted on some points with the policy of the Government would not make the Union a politieal organisation. Mr. B. H. Feisst (Cambridge) supported the president 's view that a difference on isolated points with the polxey of any party did. nest make the union opposed to that party. The discussion was adjourned and the following committee appointed to go into the question of the union 's atti tude to party politics and report to the conference to-morrow: Messrs. H. O. Mellsop, W. J. Folson, L, Hammond and E. H. Murney. The conference then proceeded to discuss the platform printed in ,the agenda. • Mr. Mellsop moved .the adoption Of plank 1 which stated that the union was opposed to State ownership and control of the means of production, distribution and exchange. ' The conference went into committee and later the following deeision was announced: "The Farmers' Union is opposed to State ownership and control ■ of the means of production, distribution and exchange. Nevertheless, it holds that it is desirable that the State should operate certain public services, especially whereby their nature they must be of a monopolistic character, such as railways, telegraphs and electricity.'^