FARMERS AND POLITICS.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 265, 1 August 1908, Page 14

FARMERS AND POLITICS.

COALITION AND PARTY ATTITUDE. ' The political attitude of the New Zealand Farmers' Union.,was discussed by the Conference of that body in : committee on Thursday evening. The outcome of the discussions was briefly referred to in opon conference yesterday. ;Y '• * Coalition Not Supported. 'The President reported that the Conference had dealt'with', several remits in committee, and. it had been'-resolvod:— ! .' (1) That remit 42 dealing with the coalition question bo declared lost. This remit (from Southland) had proposed" That in;view of the danger of the thrco party.system being introduced into 'New Zealand politics, the Farmers' Union discuss tho advisability of urging tho Premier and tho Loader of tho 'Opposition to consider tho quostion of'coal-' eacing." A Country Party. ; ! .. (2) That the -time has now. arrived when .the Union as a whole must take a more active part. in .politics, and a firm stand against Socialistic'legislation, and that . all farmers' candidates should be asked to pledgo themselves to oppose all measures detrimental to tho farming , community, whether they may bo Government measures or otherwise; and that in any electorate where more than one candidate pledges himself to do so, a meeting of delegates from each branch in the electorate shall bo callcd 'oy tho premier.branch and such active steps be taken as are deemed desirable in the electorate to secure tho return of a candidate who can be relied upon to (iupport the Union's, platform, in Parliament, irrespective of party, and that this. Confer-, ence draw up a series of questions embodying the policy of tho Farmers' Union for use iu electorates. . , ■ , , Tho conimittee's resolutions were coniirraca bylthe Conference, and all.other remits dealiiig/with the question v/ero.then withdrawn..