The Guardian (And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times.) WEDNESDAY, APRIL 9th, 1924. POLITICAL ASPIRATIONS.

Hokitika Guardian, 9 April 1924, Page 2

The Guardian (And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times.) WEDNESDAY, APRIL 9th, 1924. POLITICAL ASPIRATIONS.

Undeterred hv the failure of the Country Party movement in the Auckland province, some fanners, says the Lyttelton “Times” have formed a similar organisation in Canterbury. A president- has been elected and, already, one candidate for Parliamentary honours announced. The selection of other candidates is to follow, and, apparently the next general election is to be of more

than ordinary importance. The movement, although planned to “look after the farming interests from the point of view of the small farmer and producer” is of interest, politically, to a much larger .section of the community, and it is to be hoped that the country will not have to wait long for an exposition, on the part of File leaders of tho party, of the faith that is in them. It can be taken for granted that the men behind this’niovciiient realise wliat they are doing and understand fully that their intentions run counter to the political history of the Dominion. The population of New Zealand is divided, politically, along certain lines, Those lines, though possibly badly defined ill places’,’ servo to separate more or less distinct schools of thought. The important thing about them is that they arc political and not industrial. Whatever limy bo said by way of criticism these political divisions running through the body politic serve tiicir purpose, and it would make for more progressive legislation, sounder criticism and better administration if the electoral laws of tho country were a mended to moie accurately reflect in Parliament the political divisions of the electorate. The Country Party, should it continue in being, proposes openly to change all this. Instead of the electors being divided politically they are to lie divided industrially. This movement is “to look alter the farming interests from the point of view of the small fanner.” Representation along industrial lines was one of the original intentions of the Russian Bolsheviki, but of course there is no similarity in aims and objects. «TWe do not for a moment believe that sound political action along those lines is possible. The need of this, as of other countries, is for men able and willing to deal with national and not sectional problems. Although moil follow different occupations and callings they are all citizens of the one country, all concerned in its welfare, all inter-dependent. No one section liveth unto itself, but it would he difficult to imagine a development better designed to raise Town v. Country issues than this proposal to secure sectional representation. No one would deny to tho farming community adequate representation in Parliament, but that representation is not because they arc farmers, but because they are a numerous and important section of tho nation. And the welfare of the nation transcends tho welfare of any one section. The people must await a declaration of policy on the part of the newparty before it can put it to the test, but, unless that platform is designed to benefit the Dominion, and the Dominion as a whole, it is foredoomed. We can see no inherent merit ill any candidate simply because of his occupation. It may he that, when the general election conies, we shall be able to support a candidate or candidates 1.-eloiigihg to the Country Patty. But if so, it will be because of the character, tho political programme and the ability of the candidate, and not because he is a far-mer—-big or little. The electors do not send men to Parliament to look after the interests of any particular section, but to legislate in the interests of the Dominion. If the day should ever come when industrial or sectional interests outweigh the national issues, then in the clash of contending factions the matters of vital importance to the community will he overlooked.