FARMERS’ UNION AND POLITICS

Dominion, Volume 31, Issue 179, 27 April 1938, Page 16

FARMERS’ UNION AND POLITICS

Firmer Stand Wanted

FARM ACCOUNTANCY REMITS Dominion Special Service. Wanganui, April 23. A decision again to send Mr. R. O. Montgomerie’s remits on farm accountancy, trade index figures and laud valuation methods to the combined conference of the Nexv Zealand Farmers’ Union, to be held at Wellington this month, xvas reached by the Makirikiri branch at a meeting to-night. A censure motion from the branch, protesting that the remits bad been shelved, xvas received at the last monthly meeting of the Wanganui provincial executive, and following a discussion was returned to Makirikiri branch for redrafting. At its meeting to-night, hoxvex er, the branch decided to xvithdraxv the motion. The question of whether the Farmers’ Union should take a stand in politics xvas also discussed, and the following remit, moved by the chairman, Mr. J. J. Lissette, and seconded by Mr. G. B. Moyle, was carried: “That the Makirikiri branch of the l\ew Zealand Farmers’ Union is of the opinion that the union should take a definite part in politics, and pledges support to that party which stands for the encouragement of individual effort, freedom of .contract and the elimination or equalisation of class legislation.” The subject was first introduced at the March meeting of the branch, when a committee was set up to frame the remit passed to-night. It was stated that there was no thought of creating a third political party, nor did the branch recommend embarking on party politics. The resolution had its genesis in the conviction that the protests of the Farmers’ Union were being taken too cheaply. There was a lack of a sufficiently definite stand on political questions which ultimately found their way to the'Statut.e Book, to the detriment of the farmer. Should Vote Solidly. Mr. A. D. Cave urged the necessity of the farmer voting solidly for a political party which would support measures protecting the farmer from the organised forces noxv profiting at his expense. Mr. C. H. Walker emphasised the advantage of the Farmers’ Union formulating a comprehensive economic policy for itself which, he suggested, should aim at the ultimate welfare of the whole Dominion and not just the farmer. He ■ claimed that by so doing the union could actively criticise any political measures which were in conflict with its policy. Mr. Montgomerie supported Mr. Walker and stressed the necessity for more effective criticism of measures harmful to the farmer and for more organised objection to present trends, which were a direct challenge to the very planks in the Farmers’ Union platform. He suggested that the union feared it would offend the left wing of the union. Mr. Montgomerie said that if . the union had, in .the past, effectively established in the minds of the general public of New Zealand the fundamental factors affecting the farmer in the Dominion—factors peculiar to no other country—not only would a great deal of the extremely radical thought never have had justification for emerging, but the farmer would have understood his own position better. He would have given the union solid support,- which, based on individual convection, would have permitted the organisation to lead the economic thought of the Dominion. Mr. J. J. Lissette said he deplored that at a time of very great danger the head office of the union should fail to give a definite lead and permit a more effective' protest being made against present challenging trends. He said the union should state definitely where it stood and not permit other factions to take advantage of its political timidity. Other remits passed for the conference dealt with a suggested alteration of the present flat rate .subscription to one on a sliding scale based on annual stock returns, and a proposal that the proceedings of the Dominion conference should be published verbatim in book form, and sent to every financial member of the union. It was stated that nothing would promote a rapid clarification of views xvithin the union more successfully. It would enable the individual membej- to check his own ideas with the- discussion and ultimate voting of Dominion conference.