FARMERS IN POLITICS.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 2315, 13 August 1921, Page 1

FARMERS IN POLITICS.

Dismissing I ho sticco.-s of the Country Party's candidate in the Mara non by-election, and the defeat of the Victorian Ministry, tho Sydney Morning Herald says the rise of the organised primary producers of Australia as a factor in polities has been rapid in recent years. Their main strength at present, however, lies in the State Legislatures. In the Stales each successive election lias resulted in accrolions*of' political strength to the farming interests. In (he Federal Parliament the present influential position of Dr. Parle Page and his followers has not been brought about by weight of numbers, but by virtue of the fact that the government lias a bare majority over other parties, and consequently the Country members, to a large extent, hold the balance of power. This numerical inferiority in the House of Representatives, however, cannot be regarded as permanent. Instances can be found in Australia to-day of Federal constituencies represented by Nationalist members, while all the State electorates within their boundaries have returned Country Party members. Followers of the Nationalist Party who are confronted with such circumstances are unlikely, therefore, to seek election again except as Country candidates, and ths fact is made the basis''of a reasonable hope by the farmers’ leaders that they may confidently expect to hold a total of about 20 scats in the House of Representatives after the next general elections.