THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. WEDNESDAY, JULY 5, 1911. A FARMERS' PARLIAMENT.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10278, 5 July 1911, Page 4

THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. WEDNESDAY, JULY 5, 1911. A FARMERS' PARLIAMENT.

The annual Dominion Conference in connection with the N.Z. Farmers' Union is to be held at Wellington at the end of this mionth. Greater interest than usual will be centred in this Parliament of Farmers, for the reason that the question of forming a Farmers' Political Party will come up for discussion. The agenda paper contains two remits from Auckland bearing upon the subject. One . of these is to the effect "that the Union form a Farmers' Party." Already a movement has been instituted an connection with the Union, but j this has not been formally endorsed ,by the Conference. The whole matter Ayiill probably be threshed out 'wihen the Auckland remit comes ; up for discussion. There, is a growing feeling throughout the Dominion that the Fiarnieris'. Union will require to associate itself with the active politics of the day if it wishes 'to gain political respect or secure the enforcemient of its demands. The mesolutions which have been passed by the Conference in previous years have been treated with contempt by Ministers of the Crown, - for the very good reason that the Union has not been regarded as a fciotor in everyday politics. If farmers desire to make their influence felt m the right quarters, they will require to bring the whole pressure of their organi station to bear. Bow this end can be aidbieved without engaging in actual party warfare, it is difficult to understand. The Auckland Provincial Executive thinks that Parliamentary candidates' should he .selected by the Executives of the Union itself, and engage themselves to watch, all legist lotion affecting the farmer or thie man on the land, and to vote unitedly on such legislation, irrespective of recognised political parties at present in Parliament. If candidates could be dnduced to pledge themselves to do. this, the farmers might hold the key to the situation. There would he a sufficient number of them in Parliament to force their demands at the point of the political bayonet. It ia questionable, however, whether any candidate would, at the present juncture, pledge himself to vote against the Party with which he is

identified on. a crucial division. The discussion of the various aspects of ths question by the Dominion Conference wall be watched with, interest. So far as the remaining remits on th© agenda paper are concerned, they are all subordinate to the one great political issue. The land laws occupy a foremost position upon the list, 'but most of them have already been affirmed and re-affirmed without effect. The question of land valuations- iseiems to be a burning one throughout the [Dominion, for there are no fewer than .seven remits dealing -with the subject. The railways again loom large, while defence, Customs, Post and Telegraphs, immigration and education are not forgotten. There is a miscellaneous selection of remits dealing with agricultural and pastoral matters, and altogether the Conference is afforded a wide field for discussion, the practical results of which will probably be, as heretofore—nil.