DEMOCRACY AND THE FARMERS’ UNION

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXIII, 12 June 1939, Page 11

DEMOCRACY AND THE FARMERS’ UNION

f |v. The Editor 1 Sir, —In Wednesday’s “Mail” is published a report of an address delivered to Otago farmer delegates by the president of the Farmers’ Union. No more audacious challenge to democracy in this country has yet been made. After endeavouring to belittle the Prime Minister by declaring Mr Savage’s comments "of no importance,” Mr Mulhol-! land declared a membership of 50,0001 (in the Union) was needed, so that the Government would “not be game to i attack the union as it does now.” In | other words, the Farmers’ Union is to become so strong that our Government dare not attack it; a force in the community above and beyond the control of the elected representatives of the people; an organisation of super-un-touchables. Sir, the price of liberty is eternal vigilance! The people of this country are awakening to that realisation and they cannot be deaf or blind to the implications in Mr Mulholland’s speech. Who is to rule this country? The mass of the people through our democratically constituted legislative machine, or a comparatively small class of the community who seek special privileges?

There is no doubt that Mr Mulholland will find a fertile field for his propaganda among the farmers; apart from their individualistic self-interest, it is axiomatic that the rural population lags a generation behind the town in political concepts and a generation ago it might have been possible for the farmers to run this country. But that day has passed for ever. The president of the Farmers’ Union has disclosed his ambitions—and perhaps the response he met with will be a factor in determining the fate of that anachronistic I survival of rural privilege, the country quota. It would be poetic justice if, j through the arrogant ambition of their I leader, the farmers of this country were I made aware of the fact that an essential of democracy is the principle “one man, one vote.” —I am, etc., GORDON F. INGHAM. Stanley Brook, Bth June. "I’ll bet you a fiver ” said the old engine driver, “I’ve caught that dread plague, influenza; I H’s painful to suffer, and though an | old ’buffer’. I’ve no wish to come to an end sir. It makes my hair bristle as I hear my 1 ‘tubes’ whistle, 1 must look for a safc-‘guard,’ that’s sure, And I'll give you some ‘points,’ as I ease 1 my old joints, Woods’ Great Peppermint Cure.