FARMERS AND POLITICS

Hokitika Guardian, 25 July 1924, Page 3

FARMERS AND POLITICS

MR POI.SO.N'S V lEWS

Y'EI.I.N B :TON. July 22

••| declare my opinion here that political action t- as necessary In the New Zealand Inriner as to any otlu-r."

said Mr W\ J. I'olson iu Ins addre.-s to the annual eouleromc of the New Zealand Farmers’ I'niou. “W'hat fnriu that action i*- to take is lor you to .-av. but I am bound to inlorm you here that none ol tile plans we have adojited in the past have been of the slightest Use." ‘•J am convinced.” he continued, “that there can he no great progress iu our organisation until we lake a more active interest in political allairs. Just now. with the prospect ol a continuation ol triangular control. we have little hope ol achieving our programme a- wc arc at prc.-cut situated. Members had an opportunity of observing last year bow easily we were foiled ill our attempt to get Icgli.-ation tor the establishment of an agricultural hank on Statute hook, although a very considerable number of members ol the House were in favour of it -simply l»e----,-ause we had no representative of out own there to insist upon the introduction of the Bill. I have no intention of dwelling on an episode that must he painful to many ol u-. but the flippant treatment we received at the hands of the (lovornmeiit must have convinced members that our intlueiice counts tor little with the powers that he. But agricultural hanking is not the only subject we feel strongly about. Y 1 are out for tin immigration policy that will settle the vacant- lands of New Zealand. We want to see closer sett lenient. so that every acre of Hits country will he made as highly productive as' is consistent with our geographical situation. We are anxious to see taxation reduced, partly through sound and economical adminstration. and partly through an increase in population that will mean more shoulders to carry it. We are determined to see this eotintr) developed as it .should Ik_> developed and to set our hues against its l>oiug plunged annually further into debt because easv tnonev is available. “Wo have heen asking for years fur leHisation in connection with shipping. Something that will provide us with a means of countering any effort ol the -hipping ring to put on further turns of their screw tn the future. Ye see a prosect through the disorganisation of the existing parties of further ex-,.i,-intents in social legist inn. and a tampering with the individualistic system which has given Britain her Entire and built up these Dominions. I lie Farmers Union has fought consistently for the development of the country on sound Business lines, because we have realised that we dare not stand still, hut we have not made the headway we should have made. We have succeeded certain!'" with marketing control, hut wo must sec to it that the handicaps of taxation, vexatious social leglisation. shortage of labour, an (Boss of population through failure to insist oil higher production do not rob us of the lienefits of these great reforms, nnq possible (urn them nKßiust B s ;”