FARMERS AND POLITICS.

Press, Volume LXI, Issue 18343, 28 March 1925, Page 12

FARMERS AND POLITICS.

HON. A. D. M'LEOD'S

ADVICE.

(srEciAt. to "thi tsess.") GISEORNE. March -'• Addressing a gathering, of farmers at Wairoa. the Hon. A. D. MeLeocl. Minister of Lands, said he had been a member of the Farmers' Union f0r.20 years. In the past the union had ftecrcd clear of the political line, but he regretted very much that in recent years there had been introduced tho political element, particularly in the Auckland distinct. Nothing would kill tho union more quickly or surely than the introduction of party politics. Farmers must take care they did not become ehopping-blocks between tho respective- unions of Labour and Capitol.

It was essential' that tho farmers should organise to further their interests, and it was important that lfc should never be forgotten—especially by the dwellers in the cities—that the prosperitv of the country was entirely due to ti'io results of the work cf tho primary producers. The present year's figures, he believed, would show that 93 per cent, of the country's exports were pastoral, and this was ample evidence -of the Dominion's dependence upon the success of the man on the land. If the city dweller failed to realise how mt-ch his interests were tied up with those of the producer, then tho country would surely have to face a. very serious position in the future. Mr McLeod made reference to the attitude of some men who relied too greatly upon the assisU'.nco which they expected "from the Government. Ot 'iiho settlers on the land, he said ono tlrird hold Crown tenancies of one description or another, and there was a deplorable tendency among them to assumo that the respon&iliility .»or their success rested with the State. Jf losses occurred these men did not regard theni as personal losses but as "the State's funeral," and if this policy was continued the men themselves could not succeed and the country as a whole would haivo to pay the penalty. It was imperative that tho people should realise that they were the State, that the State's interests were their interests, and tho State's losses their losses. It was the duty of every man and every woman to protect the interests of the country, and to do his or her share towards increasing its prosperity. The Dominion was fortunate in being able to look back upon tho work of tho pioneer settlers, to whose grit and energy were due the results which had been achieved. More grit such as that shown by them in the early days was required in the Dominion to-«lay if the country xvsts going to attain to that degree .of prosperity to' which it was entitled, and which could be secured if the people would only put their backs into tho work. If the country was going 'to succeed, they wanted more of the spirit shown during the war and the fight for prosperity was one well wofth fighting for. It mattered not wh>\t Government was in power so long as they legislated for the good of the country as a whole, and they to&ld rest assured that no Government that legislated for one particular class /would be allowed to remain in office. The potentialities of the country were enormous, and if the people would put their shoulders to the wheel the country -would progress along the right lines.