The Star.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XLII, Issue 7542, 18 August 1902, Page 2

The Star.

Delivered every evening b> 6 o'clock in Hawera, Mnnam, Normanby, Ckaiawa, Eltliam, Mangatoki, Kaponga, Avatuna, Opunake, Otakeho, Munutabi, A,.bou, Hurlevville, Fates, and Waverlcv.

MONDAY, AUGUST 18.

THE FARMERS' UNION .— PROVINCIAL CONFERENCE.

A glance at the headings of the various sub- divisions of our aocount of the meeting at Stratford will inform our readers how very valuable a body the Union is in providing opportunities for discussion on the many subjects economically and politically of the greatest interest to farmers. It is now said of Germany that "industry is the breadwinner," and, seeing the largely predominant part the primary produce cf the land takes in providing exports, it may be said that in New Zealand the land workers are the breadwinners. Their union, in order that they may obtain as good a place in the Bun as has been achieved by others, has been welcomed by very many outside those engaged in agricultural and pastoral pursuits, and chiefly because it was felt, as claimed also by the V ce-President, that " farmers would have a wholes oroe influence on legislation." Mr Leech pleadad for the formulation of a broad, comprehensive soheme, which, doubtless, is of fundamental importance, and equally so is the expression of the details of that scheme in the Parliament of the colony in an intelligent and coherent manner. The large influence whioh an agrarian party should wield in colonial legislation, and the sobering and reforming line whioh is expected to guide its policy, render it necessary that the exponents of that policy should be chosen with care. The Colonial Conference was deeply impressed I with the responsibility attaching to I its Union on account of its expected influence on colonial legislation, and in consequence was exceedingly chary of lending to, any political movement the influence of its powerful name. But it would appear that many think that the Bmall part of that influence which is allowed by the Colonial Conference to be used in the name of the Union for the election of members to Parliament will not result in the election of members expressing the views of the Union, and, judging by the numerous candidates spoken of for each separate electorate, in the present state of human nature it would appear that too much is expected from the operation of those suggestions whioh provide for the elimination of superfluous candidate?. It is hoped in the adoption of Mr Milne's amendment, relegating tha matter to the consideration of the branohes, to obtain unanimity on the sabject of choioe of oandidatts, and certainly without such unanimity the word " union " is a misnomer, and fiom the results of voting nothing better might be expected than the formation in Parliament of a new " left wing." At the Conference it was gratifying to s^e that there were those present who recognised that come of the resolutions proposed dealt with subjects whioh are in themselves of so deep a nature in scientific economics, and so far reaching in their effects, that it would be destructive to public faith in the wise deliberation of the Union if tbey were adofcfced on a oetch vote without exhaustive

debate. The latter the Conference had not the time to give, and, recognising the value of decision on ihem, it wisely relegated them to ihe branohes for consideration. If the political platform of the Union displays the steadying aspect hoped for, their candidates will receive many votes other than those of the land and its workers, and in the Legislature the measures it supports will be supported by others.* But to acquire such influence the effect of every plank it places in the platform must be studied, not only from the point of view of the material interest of the farmer, but in its probable effect on the colony as a whole. The branches should provide most suitable opportunities for exhaustive debate and careful decision before any proposition is given publicity at provincial conferences and exposed to the searchlight of public discussion.