The Times. Published on Tuesday and Friday Afternoons. Motto: Public service. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 1, 1920. THE FARMER IN POLITICS.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 9, Issue 571, 1 October 1920, Page 2

The Times. Published on Tuesday and Friday Afternoons. Motto: Public service. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 1, 1920. THE FARMER IN POLITICS.

For several years past quite a number of the officials of the Farmers' Union have shown a desire to call into existence a separate political party of their own. The tendency has been more marked in the Auckland Province than in any other district in the Dominion, idea is not without its backers .elsewhere. If the adherents of the proposal can manage to impress their views upon members of the Union generally we may expect to see at the next election in each country constituency a Farmers' Union candidate opposing the Reform candidate. It is in fact an open secret that the Auckland Provincial Executive has already selected the leader under whose banner they propose to challenge Mr. Massey's grip upon the reins of Government. N

' If the farmers of New Zealand desire to see a Labour Government in office there would be no easier and quicker way of effecting it than by following the lead given by the Auckland executive. If the Union decides to so act it will be enabled to rely upon the obedience of a large number of its followers, though probably not enough to return more than a negligible number of its candidates. But it will certainly* be able to command sufficient votes to divide the farmers into two parties and ensure the return of the Labour candidates in such constituencies as Manukau, Waikato, and a number of others which include fair-sized towns. Now that official Labour has thrown off the mask and come into the open with its proposals for confiscation of property and destruction of constitutional law it would seem almost to savour of madness and suicide to attempt to do anything to destroy the one power that stands between us and absolute anarchy—the farmers of the Dominion. But the attempt is being made, and unless wiser counsels prevail it will succeed. It is difficult to imagine what motive can sway the promoters, unless it be that they believe that they themselves ought? to adorn seats in the House, and hope to induce the Union to put them there.

At this juncture we are glad to see that a warning note has been sounded by Mr. W. J. Poison, the president of the Farmers' Union for Wellington Province, who clearly sees the danger not only to the State but to the Union itself that would be involved in the creation of a separate political party. He believes, as we do, that farmers ought to take a deep and intelligent interest in politics, and present a solid case to candidates for Parliament, but he could not advocate anything further. We trust his wiser views will prevail. The Farmers' Union was brought into being as a counterpoise to the strength and influence of the Labour unions, and, properly guided, ought to be the strongest safeguard we could for the continuance of law, order and constitutionalism, but »if it succeeds in dividing the farmers'of the Dominion into two hostile camps chaos and ruin may very soon •follow its action.