FARMERS AND POLITICS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 20086, 25 October 1928, Page 16

FARMERS AND POLITICS.

ATTITUDE OF THE UNION. DISCUSSION AT WANGANUI. [IIV TlCr.lXili.M'H. —OWN CO lilt KSPON HUNT.] \V.\ NO A X nr. WffJncsfhi y. The imu h-discnssed question of tlio attitude of tlio Fanners' Union to <lio political campaign was again under consideration to-day, when tlio Wangantn branch of the union had before it the following remit: "That this meeting strongly approves of the Farmers' Union taking no part in tlie party politics. It regrets, however, that any official standing foi Parliament should take advantage ot the prominence he may have gained iu tlu Farmers' Union to assist him m any political campagn. Ik'fore contesting a Parliamentary scat any member holding a proninent officii) 1 position in tlio Farmers' union should resign such position a,id thus remove any appearance or suggestion of the support of tlio union." The remit came from the Makirikiri branch, fiom which a deputation waited on the meeting. It was pointed out that m 1919 Mr. W S. Glenn was president, of the Makirikiii branch, and when ho decided t. contest tlio Kangitikei seat ho resigned his position. .Nlr .1. R. Franklin, while declaring himself a whole-hearted Reform supporter, said Mr. W. J. Poison had done a tromendous amount of good for the union and it was not fair to ask him to resign his position. If he was asked to resign tlio farmers might lose his services altogether. Finally an amendment was carried that the executive, while being largely sympathetic with the principles of the remit, considered the present time was not opportune to carry it into effect.