FARMERS POLITICS.

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 13744, 27 May 1910, Page 7

FARMERS POLITICS.

(PBBSS ASSOCIATION TEJJSGBAM.) AUCKLAND, May 26. At to-day's Auckland provincial Conference of tho New Zealand farmers' Union, Captain Coi^ e ck, representing the Cleveden' branch, moved :-r-"That a Farmera', party; b$ formed." They wero told, he said, that they had representation in Parliament. It was tpue that twentyfour farmers were members of tho House of Representative but unfortunately twelve were on the Government and twejvo on the Opposition siclo. "It seems to mc," said Captain Colbeck, "that the farmers in the Houso are not worth a rap to us. They are tied by party, and yqu have only to look at the legislation of tho last five years to know it. The Sale and Importation of Machinery Act was one of the most extraordinary measures ever put through the House "We want to run our own candidates. A man is politically what he is born-a-Liberals are Liberals from birth, and Tories aro Tories from birth. Tb. only way to get farmers to vote solidly is to bring forward candidates who are neither Government nor Opposition. What we want is a Farmers' party."Mr J. S. -Montgomcrio (Mangere) said ho was convinced that a Fanners' party was an actual necessity. Mr J. 8. Wilson (Auckland) said he was satisfied that'the farmfert' interests were keenly watched in Parliament by the Opposition Mr "Ross said tho farmers were well represented, but the trouble was tliat tho farmers never knew what they wanted. Captain Colbeck, in the course of his reply, said the discussion had'beeri. a saddening one. He took it that they had no politics and no sense. It was a farce to say that the farmer* were well represented. He wanted to see the Union fighting for its own prim, ciples The motion was carried.