FARMERS AND POLITICS.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXII, Issue 4331, 17 October 1921, Page 2

FARMERS AND POLITICS.

COUNTRY PARTY’S AIMS.

ADDRESSES AT TURUA, An address concerning the farmer and politics, was given at the Victoria Ha.l'l, Turua, on Friday evening by Colonel- Allen, who advocated the formation pf a farmers’ political party.

During the course of Ijis address Col. Allen said .that we were living in the age of democracy, and Harding had said that democracy was at present on its trial. The true ideal of democracy .was Government for the people by the people. Democracy today did not represent the true will of the people. Men were so susceptible to propaganda that it reached even to the ballpt-box. It, had been found that the country community was. the hardest to organise. The united town opinion was .that which swayed the politician, and it -was only in recent years that the telephone had brought the country people into closer tpuch. In Ontario (Canada) the farmers had swept the polls. In Australia the country party' was holding its own. The executive had thought tha,t the time had ritjw pome for a country political party to be formed in this country. He could not say that the 20 ot 30 M’s.P. would stick put for the farmers. When an M.P. got .to Wellington it was not, long before he was turned into a political machine. There would be a far greater weight in Parliament with a farmers’ party than by the individual members attached to the various parties. A farmers’ party would be up against, the political machine. There would be trouble in getting the branches to puTl together in the selection of the candidates. If the farmers union branches would all pull together great things could be done. This was the solution of the farmer to get his full share in developing .the policy.of his country.

Captain Colbeck, giving reasons why there should be a farmers’ party, ■said that the Dominion president and Ke had just made a tour of the South Island, and np farmers had stood up and disagreed with their remarks. He then compared prices of produce in N.Z. and in England, and remarked on the increase in which the shipping companies had been asked to reduce. This the shipping companies, would not do, and a two years’ contract had to be made at the ruling rates.. He hinted that it would be possible to purchase enough ships to carry the farmers’ produce. Cooperative- freezing companies were also required.

Referring to the waterside labour, Captain Colbeck said that the efficiency of labour on the waterfront had dropped 33 per cent since .the beginning of the war, and as a result a huge sum of money was being lost. The increase in taxation in New Zealand was £5 10/1 to £l9 17/2 per Head. The companies did not pay the income tax but put it on to the price of the articles sold. In the end the consumer must pay. A great deal of these charges could not be avoided, but a great number could, and it had to stop.

Before Mr Massey.left for England he had said -that there would be a reduction in wages all round. Captain Colbeck quoted increases in expenditure of Departments. In no instance was there a decrease in expenditure. The railways had not paid. “ Does this not make you think it necessary to combine and take action ?” He urged the meeting to back up their leaders in all matters and to stop the dry-rot which Ijad set in. “It must be done now, and quickly,” he said. Mr .Massey had said that he (Colbeck) was 'doing his best to injure the. financial stability of the country.. Captain Colbeck upheld that he was acting according to his rights. He had not made the above statements with the idea pf forming a farmer’s party, but to strengthen the farmers? unions.

Mr J. C. Millar said the facts put forward were borne out by all thinking inen. The Government had been spending and spending. The world had gone mad through spending. The women of, to-day might go a long way to help man to pay his taxation, which comes hard on a man with a. large family. The farmer, had to pay taxation on the top ofl all this. He wished to know what Captain Colbeck would suggest to put these matters right. Captain Colbeck said he would first make retrenchment with the Government, who could save £64)OO,OOO.Then there was more efficiency lequired on the waterfront.

Mr McMillan asked why the South Island wanted Armour and.Co,, and the North Island did not. Captain Colbeck said that was so because Armour and Co. had offered; %d per pound more. .He was sorry to say that Wairarapa farmers wanted them to'. Mr Millar wished to know how the retrenchment would be brought about. Captain Colbeck said that some of the Civil serlants would have to be sacked, as there were at present three men ddifig one man’s job. Those Who were kept on should have their wages reduced. Mr McMillan: If you retrench throughout New how would those dismissed people find jobs ? Captain Colbeck thought that employees must receive less wages or go without work.