The Advocate. [Established 1888.] TUESDAY, APRIL 14, 1908. FARMERS AND POLITICS.

Bush Advocate, Volume XX, Issue 1002, 14 April 1908, Page 4

The Advocate. [Established 1888.] TUESDAY, APRIL 14, 1908. FARMERS AND POLITICS.

The attitude of members of the farming community to the politics of the country is of course a very important question, and one of particular interest to those who wish to command a leading place in political affairs. The establishment of the Farmers' Union some years ago was an honest endeavor on the part of some well-meaning I persons to induce the farmers to take an interest in their own affairs, and by combination to obtain concessions and advantages affecting their "own particular industry. This was a very laudable enterprise, and one that commended itself to the great bulk of the people. This new factor in the social world, howeVer, was not allowed to rest at this. Certain people who have always been opposed to the Government saw at once an opportunity to turn the union into a political force, and that practically settled the fate of the organisation. Direotly it was found that the union would be used as a wedge to split the farming vote, a very large proportion of landowners would have nothing more to do with it, and though a few branches, with praiseworthy persistency, have maintained regular meetings, a very large number ceased to exist, while others have so dwindled in membership as to practically mako any hope of combined effort almost impossible. At Palmerston on Saturday last seven gentlemen attended the annual meeting of that branch. The report mentioned that 180 members were in arrears with their subscriptions, only some 80 having paid for this year the few shillings demanded as a fee. At this meeting the chairman deplored the 1 apathy shown by farmers towards the union, and he complained: "We come here month after month, and see the same old faces." This is really only an indication of the respect shown to the organisation in other quarters, and the sooner tho ©xaet stai^ of affairs concerning the union is realised the better. It is a sheer waste of time to discuss a society whose branch at

such an important centre as Palnierston is represented at its annual meeting by seven members. It cannot be accepted in any sense, as representative of tlio great mass of intelligent farmers, and the very name is a misnomer. A conference of the union is to take place shortly a| Auckland, and amongst the proposals to be discussed is a proposition that "the time has now arrived for the New Zealand Farmers' Union to? form a separate political party, and Tiln its own candidates for such seats as it is considered desirable." It is clearly to be hoped that the conference will como to a definite decision upon the question. If the affirmative is decided, the union will have taken, a wise course. The farmers have every right to combine politically, if they wish to do so, and .if they consider they can advance their own interests by taking a direct hand in politics they are foolish not to act accordingly. The public would them know what the issue was. But the present institution is not entitled to- any consideration. Its leaders, are strongly opposed to the Government and almost all the advanced legislation that has been passed in recent yeaxs, and if they have failed, as we believe they have, to capture the votes of- the,, great majority of farmers, that fact should be established. We sincerely trust that the conference will, on this occasion, be -..-content with no half measures, but will como out into the open, and bolcßy proclaim their true colors. There ,has been too much paltering altogether on this question of the politics of the Farmers' Union, and in view of the fact that within six months we shall be nearing the period of the general elections, the true inward position of the union should "be manifested/ That there is plenty of wffik for a noi&politicaf organisation is beyond all doubt, but the uncertainty "that at present hangs over the real scope and aim of the present organisation is^ fatal to the "accomplishment of good results.