GOVERNOR'S ADVICE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20722, 15 November 1930, Page 12

GOVERNOR'S ADVICE.

FARMERS AND POLITICS. SYMPATHY OF ALL PARTIES. OBJECT TO BE PURSUED. [by telegraph.—own cob respondent.] CHRISTCnURCn. Friday. "As Governor-General and representative of the King, I have to stand aloof from politics," said the Governor-Gen-eral, Lord Bledisloe, when addressing members of the Canterbury Agricultural and Pastoral Association to-day. "I am very glad that it is so," said Ilis Excellency. "I want to ask the farmers of this country, it they want to study their own best interests, not to allow themselves, as farmers to drift into party political controversies. If you want to have the sympathy of all parties in your welfare—and upon your welfare depends the welfare of this Dominion —do not be drawn into party political controversies. . "Seek from all parties that support which, in this country I feel sure, they will give you, bearing in mind, as the.v are bound to bear in mind, that the prosperity of the rural, and particularly the pastoral, industries depends the wel fare of this country, and that nothing that can be done in the way of urban development or in the promotion of secondary industries is going to be successful if the primary industries are not enjoying a fair measure of prosperity. 'lf you agriculturists form a single party or seek the support of one particular party, you are doing a great deal to mili tate against the sympathy which you have to-day, and deserve to have, from all political sections in the country. I sincerely venture to hope that all political parties in this country will, as far as agriculture is concerned, co-operate in every possible way and seek by points of contact rather than by points of difference to advance primary production in New Zealand.

"Let mo express a hopp that 1 shall have many opportunities of meeting practical farmers, and particularly those who are improving the livestock of this country, during tho next few months. My urban friends so far have claimed a large portion of my time, but I am looking forward to what, to me, will be a greater pleasure than comparing notes with my urban neighbours—that is, comparing notes with my farmer neighbours " QUESTIONS FOR CANDIDATES. PLATFORM OF THE UNION. [BY TELEGRAPH. —OWN CORRESPONDENT.] NEW PLYMOUTH. Friday. The New Zealand Farmers' Union has had drawn up a platform for submission to candidates at the next Parliamentary elections and the committee in charge has recommended that where replies from prospective candidates to the demand for pledges to support tho platform irrespective of party are unsatisfactory the names of suitable candidates who would be prepared to do so bo recommended. The draft platform was placed before today's meeting of the provincial executivo of the union. ,

The Dominion secretary wrote stating that the important question of reducing costs of production to the farming community had been discussed at a recent executive meeting. It had been decided that a committee consisting of Messrs. VV. J. Poison, - 11. M. Rushworth, J. Bitchener and A. Hamilton, M.P.'s, and Messrs. 11. E. Blyde and L. Hammond should consult with Professor B. E. Murphy and bring down a scheme for tlie amelioration of the farmers' lot. It had also been decided that funds of the union bo made available for a publicity campaign if necessary. The president of tho executive, Mr. H. E. Blyde, said that among other things the provinces were asked to set up special committees to organise meetings so that every farmer in the district might attend and to create rolls of farmers in their areas who were prepared to assist in the movement. He emphasised the fact that the union was taking no party standpoint. It had to have men t-o back up its policy and if they were not among existing candidates the union would have to find them. Some party might tako up the platform as a whole.