COUNTRY PARTY.

Press, Volume LX, Issue 18151, 14 August 1924, Page 9

COUNTRY PARTY.

AUCKLAND ACTIVITIES. iSPECIA'- TO "THE PiSSB.")' AUCKLAND, August 13. That the Auckland Provincial Executive of the Fanners' Union should lead the way in nominating candidates as representativco of the farmers for th-' next Parliamentary elections was the unanimous opinion expressed by the executive last evening .Mr A. A. Kos-s moved the formation of a Political Committee, consisting cl Messrs A. E. Harding, C. C. Munro, \\. D: Duxfield and himself, with a view ! to taking some action at- an early date; j the committee to consider the wholei vosition and submit a recommendation to the next executive meeting. Mr Hois said party candidates should be 'appointed at the first available ooportunity. Auckland had apparently to lead the Dominion in this matter, and it required only an explanation, of the aims of the party to ensure ths support of primary producers throughout the country, Mr J. S. Thompson said that unless a Country Partv was formed the L&hour Party would score very heavily at the next elections. The policy of the Government was largely responsible for the present distress among: farmers, and the latter were consequently seeking relief from sources outside the Government. It had been n matter of surprise in Victoria and New S<-utli AVales that farmers had captured country constituencies which were regarded as the strongholds of the Conservative Party, which coincided with the Reform Party in this country. Mr W. H. Allen asserted that certain members of the Reform Party had said that farmers were making propaganda out of their proposed agricultural bank. If the Government did not- assist them, he said they would be justified in taking such a. .step. Mr Duxfield said the principal objection had been that by entering politics farmers would probably impair the 'Fanners' Union, but in Auckland, on the contrary, the suggestion of politiea' action had had the effect of doubling their membership. The formation of a Country Party was the only alternative for farmers at a time When, although prices for produce were never so good, distress was never so rife. It was only by having it threat of a Country Party hanging over its head that the Government had done anything at all to aid farmers.

The motion was carried unanimously