FARMERS' ELECTION ATTITUDE.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1141, 31 May 1911, Page 6

FARMERS' ELECTION ATTITUDE.

HOW,FAR TO GO? (By Telegraph—Special Reporter.) Woodville, May 30. At tho Wellington "Provincial Confer, ence of the Farmers' Union, Mr. W. J. Birch, of Marton, moved:—"That in view of the'general elections taking place next November, it is advisable that some steps ba taken with the object of uniting farmers in support of thoso candidates who are in accord with our platform." Mr. Birch said that it seemed a pity that the union should not bo able to impress upon its members tho importance of carrying out the objects which were expressed in tho union's platform. Whether any bucli organisation as was estabiishcJ in Canterbury was necessary ho did not know, but if the delegates (when they returned to their districts) would impress upon their branches that, if they really wanted their platform carried out, they must elect members of Parliament, who would support it, he thought that such a 6top would have effect.

Mr. H. A. Nivcns, of Te Nut, seconded, Hβ thought the motion wont far enough. There was a remit from Levin on tho order paper asking tho conference to express an opinion relating to what was ?oing on in Auckland and in Canterbury. Io was much against the union taking part in party politics, but it was in their interest to get men into tho House who would work for rural interests. In the past candidates who answered union questions favourably had been guaranteed that the union would influence farmers as far as possible to vote for them. He did not think that the union was justified in going further than that, and that system should be adopted again. Ho hoped that the conference would be unanimous that they should not go further.

Mr. W. D. Matheson, of Eketauuua, thought that Mr. Kevins was right. It was regrettable that Canterbury should have thought it necessary to go outeido tho union. For the conference to say that it approved of such a movement would be a very questionable step, because the movers might add planks to their platform or talco planks off. Ho hoped that whnteror wns done would be strictly under tho Defence Department of tho union. . Mr. Birch remarked that ho ngreed that, if compulsion was tried, they would ruin themselves. "With record to the association in Canterbury ho took it that the reason why they organised it was that tho union had no funds to expend m tho way of lectures to educate tho people as to (lie farmers' wishes, and therefore this means of subscribing to send a man round tho country was adopted. Tho remit was.adopted.