The Dominion FRIDAY, JULY 29, 1921. FARMERS AND POLITICS

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 261, 29 July 1921, Page 4

The Dominion FRIDAY, JULY 29, 1921. FARMERS AND POLITICS

The question of forming a farmers’ political party in this country has been sufficiently in the forefront of late to give exceptional interest to yesterday’s debate on the subject at the New Zealand Farmers’ Union Conference and to its outcome —a decision by thirty votes to seven that the formation of another political party at the present time is inadvisable. Looking at well-established facts in regard to the measure of political representation farmers enjoy and the extent to which their interests arc studied by the Government of the day it seems obvious that they have much more to lose than gam by plaving a lone hand in politics. A time conceivably may arrive when farmers will be compelled as a matter of self-defence to organise their own political party, but if such a necessity does arise it will probably be as a result of the undue multiplication of other parties. In their own interests, as well as on broader grounds, farmers ought to aim at the fullest co-operation with other constructive elements in the State. With the assistance of the country quota, they are well placed to take an active part in politics without forming a separate party. As one delegate observed yesterday, they have never been so well represented in the House of Representatives as they are to-day, and as much may be said of the Cabinet. The remark passed by another delegate that farmers in the House are “dumb dogs” is surely the verdict of one who is quite unfamiliar with the active and influential part these members actually take in the work of Parliament. While the conference yesterday condemned the idea of setting up a separate political partv’at present it passed another resolution, this time _by a narrow majority. in which it affirmed that: —“The rules should lie amended so that when the time is opportune the union will be able to take an active part in the country’s politics.” The demand for the establishment of a farmers’ party in this country seems to be inspired less by local needs than by the recent course of events in Australia, Canada, and elsewhere. New Zealand farmers are bound to recognise, however, that they are better off as matters stand than if they were represented in Parliament even by a party relatively stronger than the Country Party in the Commonwealth House of Representatives. It is hardly necessary to look deeper into the question than this: that in the extent to which such an act of separation is genuine it must tend to leave those who make it in a position of isolation. _ The recent experience of Australia on the whole supports an opinion that a farmers’ party, holding the balance of power and bargaining for concessions to its point of view, is not as well placed to serve its constituents as are the representatives of farming interests in the New Zealand Parliament. Already farmers in this country are. assured of a ready and sympathetic hearing from ' the principal political parties. It is open to them to do a «rcat deal to extend and enlarge their influence in national politics by perfecting their organisations and engaging in an educational campaign which would give all sections of the population an understanding of the vital place that primary industries take in the economic life of the Dominion. Isolation, in politics and in the national life of the Dominion, is the thing of all others that farmers ought to avoid. Although it was countenanced by one or two speakers in yesterday’s debate, the idea that farmers are a class set apart with only their own separate and snecial interests to advance is an absolute misconception and one tbht belittles their importance and that of their industry. Farmers are entitled to ask for the co-operation of other sections of the. community in establishing conditions favourable to the unimpeded development of primary industries not merely as a matter of justice, but because other sections of the community arc only less interested than themselves in promoting the nrosnenfv of these industries. The legitimate interests of farmers are absolutely identified with those of the country as a whole, and when farmers are effectively organised from North Cape to the Bluff and have agreed amongst themselves upon the essentials of a sound policy of progress and development they ■will have no need of a separate political party, for the good and sufficient reason that no party of any importance will venture, to slight their reasonable suggestions or demands. From the b’-oadest standpoint it will be a misfortune for the Dominion if as time goes on its political parties tend to increase and mulfiiflv like those ,of some other British countries, notably Australia and Canada. There is no doubt that the line of true progress is to be found in breaking down party divisions as far as possible and establishing a strong working combination in Parliament. In tlm decision it reached yesterday the Farmers’ Union Conference showed a just appreciation of tiv fact that with a treat nrrav of nmnt problems calling for effective t.r r “ , tmcnt. the extension and <?laborat/*on of the game of nartv politics, is a luxury that neither farmers nor +he community at largo can afford.