FARMERS IN POLITICS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 18022, 22 February 1922, Page 6

FARMERS IN POLITICS.

The letter written by Mr. A. A. Ross which was published yesterday may be accepted as an authoritative statement of the case for the creation of a farmers' political party. On the motives and hopes expressed by Mr. Ross it is unnecessary to offer further comment. It is possible to appreciate the motives without I sharing the hopes, and without challenging the " right " of farmers to enter party politics, to doubt the expediency of such action. There is only one question of fact at issue. In its first reference to the subject the Herald said: " The ultimate effect (of the formation of a farmers' political party) might be to make a present of the government to the Labour party, as has happened in Queensland owing to the separate existence of the Country party." On this Mr. Ross offers the comment : " The reference to the state of political parties in Queensland is rather unfortunate for the Hebald's argument, the facts being that Labour held the reins of office by p, large majority, until at the last election the advent of the Country party so reduced it that they have been holding office ever since by a bare majority, and it is generally admitted that their days are numbered." As the experience of Queensland is entirely relevant and enlightening it is worth elucidating the facts. The last general election, held in. October, 1920, reduced the majority of the Labour Government from 20 to eight, a figure which has since been still further discounted. The vote was taken at a time when the Labour party was not only discredited in Queensland but was notorious throughout the world for its " Repudiation Act" and its threats of confiscation. Its return, even by a narrow majority, made believers in democracy almost despair of Queensland, and the circumstance was due entirely to the division of the antiLabour forces. An attempt was made, almost on the eve of the poll, to patch up a truce between the National and Country parties, but it was only partly successful, and they have remained divided even in their opposition to the Government. Another election is approaching and they are still unable to consolidate their forces, though a basis of cooperation is within sight. If Mr. Ross still thinks the separate organisation of the Country party dealt a death-blow to the Labour Government let him read the comment made the day after the election by the Melbourne Argus, one of the most influential of Australian newspapers and one close enough to Queensland to be well informed and far enough away to reach a dctached judgment

The Theodore Ministry had a great advantage in the unprep&redness of the enemy forces. There were five distinct parties opposing Labour. The Nationalist party consisted of two sections and there were three country parties. There were, it seems, only nine or ten seats in which the vote was actually split, but the weakness of divisions of this character is great. When in 1912 the Denham Ministry gained the elections! there yaa oga ppiteq fg&

Labour party, splendidly organised. It won by & substantial majority, but the growth of schism has enfeebled its organisation. Mr. Theodore rushed the election upon the country when his enemy was weak and his success is largely due to strategy. Had there been time the antiLabour forces might have united in face of the peril to orderly and decent government, The lesson snould bo learned ( in Commonwealth as well as Victorian politics. The continued separation of the forces opposed to Labour will lead to disaster.

The last sentence will within a ,few years apply as directly to New Zealand as it now applies to Australia, and the electors of the Dominion are not blind to the danger. One of the chief reasons for the virtual disappearance of the Liberal party in 1919 was its refusal to maintain the coalition, and it is unlikely that a new party of schism will fare any better. With Mr. Ross' desire to increase the efficiency of administration and bring about healthier financial conditions we have every sympathy. Nevertheless, farmers should beware lest in taking action which may play into the hands of the Labour party they merely exchange a chastisement of whips for a chastisement of scorpions.