THE GENERAL ELECTION

Evening Star, Issue 18030, 26 July 1922, Page 6

THE GENERAL ELECTION

• A WOMAN CANDIDATE. MISS MELVILLE TAKES THE FIELD. [Per United Press Association.] AUCKLAND, July 26. A meeting of women, about 400 of whom were present, selected Alisa Melville (a member of the Auckland City Council) to stand N for Parliament, to contest either Parnell or Roekill seat. Mias Melville announced that she would stand as an Independent, voting with the present Government on a. no-confidenco motion, though the Reform leaders would not support her. FARMERS AND POLITICS. [Per United Press Association.] WELLINGTON, July 26. The question whether the fanners of tho dominion should cllter party politics and) form, if necessary, a. fanners’ party was raised' at tho Farmers’ Union Conference to-day. Air Goodall (Nelson) moved—- “ That the conference is not in favor of tho union entering party politics at the present time.” This was carried without discussion.

Mr Johnston (Southland 1 ) moved-—“ That the union deems it advisable, in view of tho crying need for proper attention to the faming interests, to have its main aims and objects in a concise form placed in tho hands of our nominees at the next General Election, and, all things being equal, that members of tho Farmers’ Union bo prged to support the candidate nominated by the executives.” Tho wording of tho remit was criticised:, and 1 the words “nominees” and “nominated 1 ” were struck out andi “candidates 'approved of by our provincial executives ” inserted.

•it was urged that members should support tli© candidate who most nearly subscribed to the union’s view's, no matter what his politics were. Sir James Wilson maintained that the union’s attitude and efforts had largely resulted in the adoption of the existing land systems as opposed) to the leasehold system.

.Mr Harding (Auckland) replied! that it was because the Reform Party came over jo the side of the freeholder that tho present land legislation had been carried. It it had not been for that, all the efforts of the Farmers' Union would have been null and void.

; Air Buxton (organiser) said 1 it would be dangerous to bring party politics in at tho present juncture. Mr Mills (Taranaki) warned tho conference that it it. went into party politics it ' would probably result in splitting the i union. Mr Wilson (Auckland) pointed to the I success of the farmers in Canada. Although the fa imers or' New Zealand were the bulwark of the dominion, they practically counted for nothing at all politically. The Auckland Executive was going right on in the course it had entered upon, and he- was sure the time'would! come when the. fanners of the dominion would ho marching under that banner. 1 Mr Monro (Auckland) said the movement ' was not new. It was world-wide. Auckland wanted 1 to fight for farmers as farmers. A resolution was finally adapted in the following form;—‘‘That this union deems it advisable, in view of tho crying need for proper attention to farming interests, to have it 3 main aims and objects printed in concise form and placed in the tends of all candidates at the next General Elec- , lion.”

Mr Harding (Auckland) said that if the present platform of tho Country Party, as laid down in the little book published, was adopted, no one. would suffer and everyone would gain. The Country Party in the north was gaining ground evefy day. Mr Poison (the president] declared that nowhere in the world where farmers had been successful in their aims had they been successful by the aid of party politics. Ho bcseeched them to keep clear of party politics.

Foxtail advises ffiat Mr Arthur H. Vile has resigned his position as organiser of tho Liberal-Labor Party in order to contest the Manawatu seat jjg an Independent Liberal.

A Blenheim message advises that Mr W. J. Girling, of Blenheim, will bo the official Reform candidate for the Wairau seat at tho General Election.