The Northland Age WITH WHICH ARE INCORPORATED THE MANGONUI COUNTY TIMES” “THE BAY OF ISLANDS TIMES” AND “THE NORTH AUCKLAND AGE.” THURSDAY, OCTOBER 22, 1925 RED HERRINGS

Northland Age, Volume 25, Issue 27, 22 October 1925, Page 4

The Northland Age WITH WHICH ARE INCORPORATED THE MANGONUI COUNTY TIMES” “THE BAY OF ISLANDS TIMES” AND “THE NORTH AUCKLAND AGE.”

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 22, 1925 RED HERRINGS

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As the election progresses it may be seen that every effort is being made to draw red herrings across the scent by painting out that the present Government is really a farmers’ Government and that another party is not necessary to secure j attention to agricultural requirements. 1 But is this so ? The Country Party is not | the birth of election year ehthusiasm, or the result of personal ambitions, but rather of the accumulated discontent of many years. If the present Government ; had given the primary producers the assistance and encouragement which they I were entitled to is it conceivable that remit after remit should be passed at conferences and executive meeting asking for legislation and help which the Govern- , ment has failed to supply. Consistently and persistently the farmers have asked lor a sound, progressive land policy, the provision of money or the right to raise it 1 themselves, the encouragement ofincreas- I 1 ed production and theconscquentlowering j ! of taxation and many other measures : j essential to the prosperity ot the country, j The response from the alleged farmers’ j Government is illustrated by the hundreds i I of vacant farms in this province alone and 1 the absence of almost any attempt to \ grapple with th" serious situation, That i is the reason why the Country Party has ! come into existance and why it cannot fail to make a strong appeal to the rural | constituencies. It is not necessarily oppo- j sed to any of the parties, tut it is out to j get what measure of justice is possible for j the farmers. Mr. Coates is being boomed j to the skies, but there can be no escape j from the fact that he has taken up the leadership of a party which, while pretentending to be the larmers’ friend, has act- • ually allowed the farmer to be exploited t on all sides. The Refomi Government! is dominated by influences not working in ! the interests of the small fanner. 8 At Kaitaia last night Mr. Sweeney set out a clear case for support of the Country Party, and farmers at any rate should be i well satisfied with its creation and its prospects of becoming a factor in politics, 1 thus giving them that representation in Parliament to which the farming industry j is entitled. The Country Party will suppoit the Government on its merits, and on its meats alone.