THE FARMERS AND ORGANISATION.

Kaipara and Waitemata Echo, 30 October 1919, Page 3

THE FARMERS AND ORGANISATION.

That the prosperity of the farmer means the prosperity of the Dominion, is a truth that cannot be repeated too often or stated too earnestly (remarks the Northern News). It is a truism, of course, but truisms are usually self-evident truths that most people overlook until their attention is drawn to them. And in the dust and fury of the political struggle now beginning, when every interest wil be clamouring for attention and there will be a rush of axes to the political grindstone, there is a very real danger that the interests of the farmer, especially the small working farmer, will not receive due attention.

Modesty is, of course, a virtue, but in the political world it is a virtue ' that has to be its own reward. In the words of Mr Massey's admirable little political essay —which he calls hi? election programme—a sound Government is one that clearly recog" nises its duty, and without fear or favour, party motive or personal interest, conscientiously does its best for the good of the country and all its citizens. But as a matter of plain fact we never have had a Government like that and are never likely to have. Governments, like the political parties which create them, are squeezable bodies, yielding most to the most pressure. Like the unjust judge of Scriptures, who, though he feared not God nor regarded man, would do his duty if he was badgered sufficiently into doing if, politicians will conscientiously do their best for the good of the country, if the country gives them little opportunity to do otherwise, for all the citizens they are apt to consider are those who take too keen an interest in their doings to make it safe to offend them.

The farmer learned the value of organisation to advance his interests later than any other class of the community, and, though in some respects he has bettered the instruction, he has yet much to learn in taking effective joint action with his fellows. Farmers as a body are not represented in Parliament neither so largely nor so effectively as they should be, their interests are not so vigilantly looked after as those, say, of the commercial class, their crying and most elementary needs are apt to be deferred until the more clamorous demands are satisfied. Tho country's money is lavished for luxuries in towns, while the back-block farmer struggles with the most heart-breaking conditions. Elyery politician pays lip-homage to the importance of agriculture and the value of the farmer as the backbone of the country. But, like the backbone, he is usually behind—out of sight and out of mind —when the needs of the body political are being considered,

The blame for this lies very largely qn the shoulders of the farmers themselves. They have never aserted themselves in the way both their numbsrs and their importance justify them in doing They have grumbled—that is the farmer's privilege —but they have seldom followed up their grumbling with effective action. .And although there are cheering and most hopeful signs of a changed spirit, we are afraid that the average farmer does not yet realise his duty not only to himself but to his fellows and the class to which he belongs.