FARMERS'POLITICS

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1135, 24 May 1911, Page 10

FARMERS'POLITICS

A PARTY FORMED. ITS MEANING AND OBJECTS, INTERESTING DEBATE. (By Telegraph.—Special Correspondent.) Auckland, May 23. At the-Provincial Conference of tho Fanners' Union this morning, a farmer*' parly was formed. The following remits were submitted :— Matatoke: "That the union forms a

farmers' parly." Kiokio: "That tho branch approves the formation of a farmers' political party in the Dominion 'Parliament, to safeguard the interests of farmers."

The president (Major Lusk), in introducing (lie remits, reminded the. conference that a decision to form a farmers' party was made at the last conference, and a remit had been forwarded to tho New Zealand Conference, which asked for an amplification of the Auckland views. These wore sent to the Dominion Executive, and tho remit forwarded to' the various provinces. Taranaki they knew was with them. Canterbury was very energetically pursuing a policy in that direction, but they did 'not quite' come out into the open, and did not see exactly e , y6 ,t° ? y ?- lvith Auckland. What the Auckland Union did mean by a farmers' party was explained by the following, which was sent to Wellington to show what their views were:—

It is not desired or proposed that the farmers of New Zealand should attempt to elect and send to Parliament members on the same footing as tho present recognised partiesGovernment, Opposition, or Labour— whose objective is to obtain such a majority that they can form an Executive who will carry on the wholo public business of the Dominion in accordance with their political views. Hero we would point out that the New Zealand Farmers' Union has always laid down a positive rule that party politics are absolutely barred m the debates or the decisions of the union, and therefore in the Farmers' Union are found manv strong and staunch supporters of "each of the parties at present in Parliament, but who are earnestly and amicably working together to strengthen the union and thereby benefit the whole farming, community. . The farmers' party it j s now desired to form is a . combination which has for its object the return to 1 arliament of members for country constituencies, who will engage tlieinMlves to watch all legislation affecting the man on the land, and bind themselves to vote unitc-dlv for or a"ain=t such legislation in entire disregard of liow.it oncers the status of the re-' cognised political parties at. present in Parliament, or tho fate of any Ministry. On all other questions the farmers' party men would bo tree to vote either with the Government or the Opposition, as each man thmks wisest and best. The union: always desires that members,-of tho farmers party should minimise purely party feeling in Parliament, and endeavour fairly to meet the. wishes and just aspirations of any other section ' or party in the House.

"We don't intend our party to go in tl*\tW J" 1 / v ° meal Parly*at present but to-fight tor onr own interest," said the president, amid applause. He felt the idea was growing in favour, and that if the farmers were wise they would form n parly in the sense suggested. He did not think a man could say that the proposition was not a fair one, and they certainly should, as the owners of the land which bore- the biggest share of taxation, have a potential say in politics. The farmers wanted to be free from party politics altogether in this movement, but to strive for the benefit and betterment of the farming community. There was no desiro to create any feeling of town v. country, which would bo a blameful thing. Mr. Maxwell (Matatoke), who moved the remit, stated that the union would have to go into politics. If they wanted a road or a bridge, they had to go to Parliament for it. The agriculturists were two-thirds of tho population, and they should be fully represented in Parliament.

Mr. .Ttidd (Kiokio) seconded the adoption of the remit. The idea of his branch was that all branches should be eonsuited in the selection of candidates, and that it should not be left solely to the provincial executives.'

Mr. M'Gill' (Waiuku) said that • the union had doubled its strength since'last year, and he thought that before going further they should reaffirm the question: "Do the farmers really want the party?" And there were answers from t]ic meeting, "Yes" and "No." Auckland had a comparatively small part of the farming community within the union, and could the union carry A candidate against all comers? He doubted if the union was ready to form a party. He didn't believe tho union in a single electorate could put up a man bound first to the farmers' interests and to a party afterwards whom they could put in. The question of splitting the farmers vote was a serious one, and another important one .was: Were they going to get candidates? Again, to carry out the matter, was going to cost money. Therefore, ho thought they were .not ready for a farmers' party. /He believed heartily in the movement but to fail would discredit tho union and throw it back. The remedy was to exert themselves in organisation, and in discussing farmers'- politics. Every branch should lay itself out to be an educative factor in the farmers' interests before they tried to form a farmers' party. That would give the strength and body of opinion which would ' ultimately enable them to gain the end they were striving at.

Messrs. D. Hamilton (Pukekohe) and James Montgomery (Mangerc) agreed with Mr. M'Gill. Mr. Duckworth moved as an amendment to tho remit: That, though it considers tho formation of'a farmers' party desirable, this conference considers tho .timo not mature to put it into operation, but that farmers bo urged to support only candidates giving -,a pledge that they Will support the union's platform. There was a" considerable amount of discussion, in which Mr. Brown (Clevedon) and Captain Colbeck (Manurewa) stated the opinion that the union was no further ahead now on this subject than it ir.l2 years ago, and urged (lie delegates- to make a start. Wben the question was put, the amendment was lost. A further amendment was moved by Mr. M'Gill: • ■ That, while in full sympathy with the movement; the conference thinks the formation of the party should bo held over. This amendment was also lost, and the remit (that a party be formed) was carried amid applause.