A MINISTER'S VIEW.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXIX, Issue 139, 4 August 1911, Page 2

A MINISTER'S VIEW.

FAitM illtS A.VD i OLI'IICS

Inter, iew ed by a 'i imam'Herald cp.j. ICI , C.iC J-iOll. i . JrLaCKUIi-.i

. uiit.x-1 lor Agnc'uUuie, was asKc it. \ iu.is Oil tarn present avtiunie >

i/iio v aimers' inioji in regard to pm. tics. ric said: “Jl it moans that in., lainiois are going to form an appos. don party—as a good many peopio sa. re cioes—it must oi course place tlia. on ay upon a now basis, me motet of me t anners' Union hitherto iia. aeon, “Principles, not paity.' At tin moment, i cannot help thinking tlia. tno change may bring about a ciillei enb attitude towards their body. Speaking as Minister ot Agriculture, . may say that I have endeavoured t. raise my work above party. Who. party oaten s into a question, there i a tendency, perhaps unconsciously, t. see only evil in all that is clone Ip those with whom, for the time being they are not in accord. No one ha. been more devoted to the interests o. agriculture than i have been during the twenty-tour years that i haw been associated witli public life. 1. the government of a country it i. not wise for any section of the com inunity' to elect members solely o: promises given to that particular sec non. There are developing factors h our community at tne present time which have to he handled with no oi denary care, and in the event of sum not Doing exercised, consequences imp, anse which would take many’ years d correct, if correction he possible a. all. Tno census returns snow an en ormousiy increased moan population, although, some years ago tuere was . ciillerence of 130 per cent, in favour o. cue country. The urban- population now exceeds that of the country. i>y reason of the, lights put up by ‘othe. country members and myself, tin country districts have enjoyed sonic advantages over the urban districts and toe rural population should re member this in any legislation tlnu inay bo sought. . . ; ilevorting tc the Farmers' Union, 1 can only say that 1 cannot help thinking that more good will be done by their striking lor wliat they require, on the lines on wliich they have been working foi some time, than by entering into a party light. It may bo said that in spoakiiig thus, I am in fear of the consequences to the Government, but that is not so. I speak quite impersonally, and as one who has the best ihterests. of agriculture deeply at heart. Let the farmers select the mah they think is best qualified tc help them, and trust him to do sc rather than endeavour to make a delegate of him.”