THE APATHY OF FARMERS.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXII, Issue 8882, 6 August 1907, Page 3

THE APATHY OF FARMERS.

SIR. —However mueli we may deplore it the fact nevertheless remains, that at present, amongst the great pastoral and agricultural elements of New Zealand, a gross and immoral uearligouco prevails relative to those interests in and out of Parliament by not being represented as per common sense. The press may endeavour to hammer into the brains of the farmer, what is going to be the ultimate cud of our present system, but as long as this person knows and feels the prices of his products are going to bo as groat and may be better than last season, what does the farmer care? Everywhere one travels amongst the New Zealand farmers their indifference, as far as practical political organisation is concerned, strikes the now arrival as something unaccountable. The fact is, they do not wish to be troubled, and instead of an invulnerable country party in the House and a better Opposition, wo find even those who sympathise with the Header of the Opposition unable to do anything, merely because the rank and file will not fall in and do all legitimately within their province to stay this governmental policy which will, in a few years, bring us to national bankrupted', whether wo are freeholders, leaseholders or socialists. The producer is the man who is making New Zealand what it is, despite any sneers by those who dwell in cities and towns of this Dominion, and if is practically upon the man who milks, ploughs and shears, that Parliament has to depend for its revenues, and it behoves every man in the country, earning his daily bread, to see lie does not fail to recognise, that patriotism demands in a new country equally as much in an old one that the doings of Parliament are'watched with an eye denoting afthe least, intelligence. Maudlin' sentiment and after dinner speeches wo can all receive “cum grauo sails. ” What we require to check this social-official imopagauda iu Parliament is nothing more nor less than the country to organise and prepare a way to sweep Sir Joseph Ward and party out of office at the coming elections. The civil departments of State are full to overflowing with men and women drawing salaries which they would not bo worth, wore they to bo dependent for their living outside, aud this wo labourers and farmers have to submit to. Further civil ([servants, servants of the State, have also the power to vote, a practice that is prejudicial to sound government and good finance, breeding, iu its own good time, a foster that will corrupt aud grain the future moral lone of righteous government aud iieu'imeniai to individual enterprise. We can afford to smile at the peevish and chimerical efforts of the Ministry to set die thinking country and town Sections of society at variance and (ho more wc view the Parliament j paniomiue with its deceptive, hollowness, sounding a note to the intellect of New- Zealand that the beginning of tiro cud is in sight, and the selfish socialist demagogue parasitic on his fellows, feeding and wallowing to office merely for what it lias to offer. It is balderdash to allege these men love their country. I No, Sir, let the Opposition press continue to urge organisation amongst the country people from a national point of view and for this I trust some meeting will he called to commence from now a crusade in the cause of common sense aud progress.—l am, etc., “VALLEY ROAD.” Kimboltou, August Ist.