FARMERS AND POLITICS.

Putaruru Press, Volume VI, Issue 241, 14 June 1928, Page 1

FARMERS AND POLITICS.

BRANCH OPPOSES ACTION. Policy of “ Farming First.” Strong Feeling at Morrinsville. Strong exception to the remit passed at the recent annual conference of the Auckland provincial evecutive of the Farmers’ Union was taken at a meeting of the Morrinsville branch on Saturday evening. Several speakers also voiced resentment at the political sentiments expressed in the union’s organ, “ Farming First.” Mr. Topham raised the matter when he asked for an expression of opinion on the remit that had been passed. The inference was that the Auckland executive supported some form of political action. A question was asked as to which way the branch’s delegate, Mr. Philpott, had voted on the remit. The president (Mr. J. Allen) said that no direction had been given by the branch as to which way to cast 1 his vote, so that he had to use his own discretion.

Mr. W. C. Kennedy said he had resigned from the. union twelve months ago because he disagreed with the tone of the journal Farming First. He had now come back to the fold, but he wished it to be understood that he had not changed his views about the publication. It was, in bis opinion, a disgusting paper, and ho would like to know what the feeling of the members was—whether they approved or disapproved of it. He would also like to hear whether the branch favoured supporting any political party. For himself he strongly disapproved. The farmers would be better served, be thought, by approaching one of the parties at present in the House than by fighting against them. The party put up by the farmers was a party cf extremists and they were using Farming First as their organ to bring forward all the dirt they could. It was time both politics and Farming First were cut out. He did not feel inclined to continue to remain in the union unless they were. Many others farmers were, he said, of the same opin - ion as himself. Mr. S. Ferguson: The Farmers’ Union has nothing at all to do with the County Party. Mr. Kennedy: Then why does the party use Farming First for propaganda ? Mr. Ferguson: The Country political League supplies some of the funds for the publication of Farming First. Mr. Barrowclough : That is not quite correct. The position is that the Farmers’ Union in the Auckland province required an organ to express its views, as the city press would not give it fair treatment. The leaders’ letters to the papers were often distorted or not published. He resented the remarks made by Mr. Kennedy concerning Farming First. There was no need to throw mud. Nor was it right to say that the Country Political League was financially interested in the paper. Mr. Kennedy : Do you approve of the paper, then? Mr. Barrowclough: Most certainly I do.

Mr. Kennedy: And you approve of that disgusting cartoon about butchers’ shops ? Mr. Barrowclough: Jt was a matter that had to be exposed. I believe in supporting the policy of our elected leaders. Mr. Ferguson said it was right that the farmers should have some medium of expressing their views. Nevertheless he thought that some of the articles and cartoons in Farming First were a bit drastic and not in the best taste. Mr. Topham pointed out that if the branch approved of political action the leading officials, whose political sentiments were known, would be placed in a difficult position. The president moved “ that this branch does not attach itself with any political party despite any resolution passed to the contrary by the Auckland executive.” Mr. Kennedy seconded.

The president said he had been considering his position, which was becoming untenable. No doubt others had been thinking the same thing. If political action was supported it would be a great mistake. The farmers’ Union should he a place where farming problems were discussed without the intervention of politics. Farming First went too far. At best it was a poor sort of a paper. Too much political bunk was placing the farmers on the level of the Russian Communists. It wa’s important that the branch should decide upon some attitude to enable the leaders to consider their position. Mr. Ferguson: As far as the Auckland executive is concerned political action is not going to be taken this election. It should be remembered that the union and the Country Political League were two separate entities. It was true that some of the same men were on both executives, but both bodies were on separate financial footings. Personally, the speaker was not in favour of direct political action. Mr. Kennedy: Mr. Feisst, formerly organiser for the Farmers’ Union, is now a Country Party organiser, and Mr. Keegan, the Waikato candidate at the forthcoming election, was also formerly a Farmers’ Union organiser. People naturally think the two bodies are associated. Mr. Ferguson: You can take it from me that Mr. Keegan was not selected because he was an organiser. The motion was then put and carried unanimously. A copy is to be forwarded to every' member of the branch.