FARMERS AND POLITICS

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 50, 21 May 1927, Page 16

FARMERS AND POLITICS

PROPOSED ACTION REMITS FOR CONFERENCE It is evidently suggested by the remits submitted for discussion at the New Zealand Farmers’ Union Conferenoe, which is to be held this year at \Y hangarei (May 24) that there is a desire to take definite political action in the future. At the last general election the Country Party tried its luck at the polls in Auckland Province, but Union, as an organisation. did not formally ally itself to the movements. No Union funds were used for the purpose of propaganda at the elections, members gave voluntarily and accorded their support as individuals. This year, however, proposals are made to definitely associate the Union with political action. Three remits dealing with the subject areas follows: Bay of Islands (Kaitaia Branch). —In the opinion of this conference it is urgently necessary, in order to secure recognition of farming interests by whatever Government is in power that the Union should be developed into an active political organisation and that members should pledge themselves individually and jointly to support the representations of their leaders to and in Parliament. Olevedon.—That in the opinion of this conference none of the political parties at present represented in Parliament has made any effective attempt to give the primary producers fair treatment, and that the time has arrived when the Farmers' Union should take an active part in politics on an independent basis. Bay of Islands (Opua Branch). This conference considers that the Government's policy is unduly intluenced by the commercial and wageearning classes, and calls on farmers to organise in their own defence and in defence of the Dominion, whose prosperity is so gravely menaced bv such undue influences. The Dominion conference, however, has the final say and so far it has opposed party politics as a feature of Union activities. Auckland Province, therefore, may again be shown the pathway of independent action.