The Wairarapa Daily. TUESDAY, MAY 12, 1891.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XII, Issue 3808, 12 May 1891, Page 2

The Wairarapa Daily. TUESDAY, MAY 12, 1891.

It is satisfactory to notice that on the West Coast, steps are bein» taken to organise a political party to watch the interests of country settlers. The freeholders of Manawatu, like the freeholders of the Wairarapa, are numerous enough and influential enough to hold their own if they wake up to the necessity of working together. In the Masterton and Pahiatua counties the men who are on the land, not as speculators or agita~ tors or adventurers, but as real workers, who depend upon it for tjie livelihood of their families, are strong enough to carry all before them if once welded into an organisation. They have to deal with sharp and unscrupulous politicians who never hesitate to take full advantage of any opportunity that presents itself to promote their own interests, Such politicians have been shrewd enough to realize the advantages of organisation and have adopted the convenient machinery supplied by the order,of the Knights of Labour to compass the r ends. The couutry party is sleeping and if it does now and again half open its eyes to what is going on, it merely throws a glance of scornful indifference upon its adversary. This attitude altogether suits the Philistines of the Seddon and Gomorrah party, and they make one bold move after another, feeling pretty well assured of being unmolested. The country party has been conquered, but we do not like to see it taking its beating lying down. It has been vanquished by a smaller and meaner foe, but however depressed it may feel at this misfortune it should not regard itself as permanently disabled, but should rouse itself to again take the position to which it is entitled. Unless the farmers and sheep owners of this district organise in the same way that they are organising on the West Coast they deserve that they should be insulted, injured, and ridiculed by the upstarts now in power. By their own indo lence and apathy they have lost the political control of the electorate, and if there be any red blood in them they will not re3t till they regain the prestige which they have forfeited.