THE COUNTRY PARTY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 18121, 20 June 1922, Page 6

THE COUNTRY PARTY.

ITS POLICY EXPOUNDED.

ADDRESS BY THE ORGANISER

The first public exposition of the policy of the new Country Party was given by the organiser, Mr. A. A- Ross, at the Aucklard Parliamentary Assembly in St. Andrew's Hall last evening. The standing orders were suspended, and Mr. Boss was permitted to speak for nearly an hour.

Mr. Ross said the movement to form the Country Party originated because the farmers held the- opinion that they did not get enough public representation. His occupation made him an individualist, and when his day's work was done he did not fee', like attending meetings. For over 20 years the Farmers' Union had claimed to be the only organisation which represented the farmers' interests, and which could handle all problems of farmers. It had claimed to be non-political, but latterly'it had considered this neutrality a mistake. There ware no members in the House to voice the farmers' views, and so the resolutions and opinions of the Fanners' Union conferences were to a certain extent neglected. The onion could now only approach the Minister in charge of a Bill ana interview members; in fact, could go in the back door pnly. But they needed members who could go in the front door, and state the farmers* views from the floor of the House. The Country Party laid down that hone of its candi- . dates should be pledged to any other party, but should deal independently with each question irrespective as to now it would affect any Government or party. Class Government Not Intended. Dealing with objections raised against, the partv, Mr. Rons said it could not bo a class Government tmless tbey got sufficient men on to tho Government bench, and there was little chance of that. Noclass should have possession of the Government* for then thsy soon lost their ideals and strove only to keep in power. The charge that the party woula split the votes and introduce minority represeniation was not sound, or else no new party wiiuld ever be formed, nor would there be any young candidates in an old party. The party aid not approve of proportional representation, but could not see why preference voting should not be introduced. In fact, the liieform Party, when it did away with the second ballot, promised to provide a substitute. Regarding the criticism that the farmers were already well represented, tho party said the members were party men first and farmers next. Mr. Ross cited several questions vital to farmers and alleged injustices which, he said, had not called forth any effective protest from the 30 farmers in Parliament. Speaking of matters that should be rectified by tho Government, the speaker dealt in some detail with the necessity for retrenchment in Government expenditure, with railway administration and the need for greater business acumen 5n the opera* tion of the post and Telegraph Department. The Industrial System. Dealing with the Arbitration Court, he said the farmers had always objected that their interests could not be run on th< lines laid down by the Court, as the:> depended on the weather and were obligee to care for animals at all hours of the daj and niglit. The decisions of the Court wera of no use except for machinen clauses, . When wages were falling th< workmen decided for themselves whethe; or not ithey would accept them. The Court was a useless expenditure, and the sami results could be obtained by a round-tabl< conference such as usually followed an un ¥Dpular decision of the Court in any case he party was not in favour of preferenc* to unionists, as, if every employer wai compelled to, pay the same wages, com petition was discouraged and t/he employer passed the charge on to the genera] public. , , The discussion which ensued brought many-Members to their feet, and the maximum time of seven minutes was invari ably utilised.