FARMERS IN POLITICS.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIII, Issue 4432, 26 June 1922, Page 2

FARMERS IN POLITICS.

OPINION AT NGATEADANGER OF VOTE SPLITTING. UNANIMITY ESSENTIAL. The apparent danged of l supporting the Country Party unless the farmers we-e unanimous in their votes was brought before the Ngatea branch of the N.Z. Farmers’ Union at its meeting on Saturday. The minutes of the previous meeting had been read when the president (Mr. W. G. Hayward) drew attention to one which endorsed the committee's action in supporting the proposal to nominate a farmers’ representative to contest the TJiames electorate at .the forthcoming elections. Mr. Hayward wished to be clear as to how the branch stood in the matter. It appeared to him like playing with the thing if Lis branch co operated and its next, door neighbour went against it. Mr. Davidson thought that there would be a difference of opinion in anything. He maintained that those who were against the Country Party had not heard their views. Mr. Hayward said th,at ther.e were quite a number of branches in the neighbourhood, against the Country Party. Are we to take it, he asked, that this motion binds the members of the branch to vote for the Country Party ? A Member: Oh, I don’t think so. Mr Davidson : It clears the executive, Mr. Hayward said that if the neighbouring branches did not support the party he would, not. He mentioned that Kerepeehi, Waitakaruru. Tur.Ua, and Patetonga were against the flormation of the Country Party. VOTE SPLITTING. Mr. Hayward thought that by standing the Country member against the Reform an undesirable member may be elected. If the farmers were not to be properly organised, and they were not unanimous, he would not be felt bound to support the party on the present conditions. Mr. Davidson thought that Mr. Hayward had taken up the right attitude. Mr Hayward said he would rather resign his position as president if the branch was to go on with the movement. Mr. McDuff thought, the party would tend to organise the farmers, though he did not think Mr. Ross had any chance in his electorate. A Member: It’s too caily to predict that yet. Mr. Davidson moved that the leader of the Country Party be asked to keep the branch informed with the details of his campaign.. Mr. Shultz seconded the motion, which was carried. Mr. Hayward proposed that each branch of the Union in the electorate be written to asking them to appoint delegates to nieet in conference to discuss the advisability of supporting the Country Party. Mr. McDuff reminded the meeting that a similar conference had been held and only three delegates had attended. The discussion ended by Mr. Hayward withdrawing his motion, and the matter was deferred to a later meeting.