The Waikato Argus [PUBLISHED DAILY.] A Guaranteed Circulation of over 8000 Weekly. THURSDAY, MAY 14, 1908.

Waikato Argus, Volume XXIV, Issue 3781, 14 May 1908, Page 2

The Waikato Argus [PUBLISHED DAILY.] A Guaranteed Circulation of over 8000 Weekly. THURSDAY, MAY 14, 1908.

One of the most cheering scenes of the year to those who have the in- J terests of the farmers at heart is the annual reunion of the Ngaruawahia branch of the Farmers' Union. That held last night was no exception; a more pleasing spectacle could not be desired than to witness the happy and healthy countenances of the farmers, their wives, their sons, and their daughters. Large as the attendance was, however, there was not a third of the number in the hall who ought to have been present. Speaker after speaker drew attention to the fact that a very large number of farmers stand aloof from the union, although they are almost to a man ready to admit the good work it has done directly and indirectly. There are, however, in every community, a proportion of people—and that generally a somewhat large one —who are prepared to accept any benefits which come their way, but at the same time are quite prepared to let the other fellow do the work and find the money. These men overlook the fact that there is a strong combination of town workers whose sole aim is to secure advantages for themselves, mostly at the expense of the farmers, whom they look upon as a class to be milked to the very last drop of stripping in order that, by that means, the necessity to milk them will be minimised. One of the milking machines in use consists of high protective duties, which, by add ing to t'ieco3t price to all art cles,apparently justifies the Arbitration Court in awarding high wages to those engaged in the industries protected. A political principle is involved in this question, and, consequently, in a large degree refutes the contention that the Farmers' Union should have no politics.

Again, it is proposed by the party which is inimical to the farmers' interests that the parliamentary roll should be applied to all local bodies. The duty of these bodies is to tax all occupiers of land and apply the revenue to promoting the common interest of those who contribute. If this voting proposal were given effect to, the result would be that one set of men would find all the money and be out-voted by the men they employ as to how and where it should be ap-

plied. This is no imaginary danger —more than one member of the Ministry has expressed approval of the proposal. Very properly the Farmers' Union fiom time to time calls attention to small grievances, due generally to faulty administration, and has caused some of them to be remedied. These, however, are only matters of detail, but the legitimate functions of the union extend to expressing an opinion on every political principle in which their interests are involved. But all this would be of little use unless politicians seekingelection were assured that opinions and just demands would be emphasised by votes. We congratulate the Ngarauawahia branch of the union on the interest they display in the work which is incidental to membership. There is yet very much to be done, however, in the way of bringing lagging sheep within the fold.