THE COUNTRY PARTY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 21030, 14 November 1931, Page 13

THE COUNTRY PARTY.

ATTITUDE OF FARMERS. SUPPORT FOR THE COALITION. HELPING MEN ON THE LAND. The attitude of the Country Party in nominating candidates against the Coalition Government was criticised by Sir James Parr, Leader of the Legislative Council, speaking in support of Mr. .T. N. Massey, Coalition candidate for Franklin, at Manurewa last evening. "I am unable .to understand why any farmers should oppose the Coalition Government, for I have been under the impression that the farmers, through their mouthpiece, the Farmers' Union, are officially supporting that Government," said Sir James. "Only a fortnight ago the general executive of the Farmers' Union in Wellington, speaking on behalf of the farmers of New Zealand, passed a resolution in which the Coalition was whole-heartedly supported. (Applause.) It was pointed out that at the last general conference of the Farmers' Union a request had been made for the formation of a Coalition Government, and pleasure was expressed by the executive that such a Government had been brought about.

"It seems incomprehensible to rne to find some few farmers going back on the resolutions of their o'vn general conference and general executive. I am .convinced that 95 per cent, of the farmers will back the Coalition Ministry at the poll. Why should they do otherwise? If I were a farmer I would say, 'the Coalition Ministry is good enough for me; it is composed of ten Ministers, of whom nine are farmers.' Only one Minister, the Hon. W. Downie Stewart, is a city representative. Surely a Ministry 90 per cent, of whom are farmers will watch their interests. Indeed, in some, quarters the Ministry is criticised as being too much of a farmers' Cabinet." A Voice: What about Mr. Rushworth ?

Sir James: He is the Country Party—its captain, lieutenant, sergeant and the whole company. (Laughter.) I venture to predict, when the numbers go up, that he may not even be a private. (Renewed laughter.)

It was the. Coalition Government, said Sir James, that bad dealt with feitilisers and had effected a reduction of 12j per cent, in county council rates. It. had also provided a tribunal for adjusting difficulties between farmer and mortgagee with power to postpone, remit or reduce interest payments where necessary. This had all been accomplished in six weeks. The alternative to the Coalition Government was a Labour Government, whose principal piank was a huge borrowing scheme involving £25,000.000. Such a project was impossible and impracticable.

MR. ZIMAN AT CAMBRIDGE. EXTR AVA G ANT BOR P OWING. [FROM OCR OWN CORBESPONDEXT. ] CAMBRIDGE. Friday. There v.-as a large attendance at the Peace Memorial Hall last, evening; when Mr. S. N. Ziman, Country Party candidate for the Waikato scat, save an address. The candidate criticised the attitude of the Reform leader on the question of coalition some months ago, compared with his recent decision to jo:.n forces in a Coalition Government. -He strongly criticised the late Government for not giving the people a lead in the matter of expenditure, snd said borrowing for public works had been extravagant. Asked as to his attitude in the event of a no-confidence motion, Mr. Ziman said he would vote on every proposal on its merits. He would give any Government a fair trial and vote with it as long as its policy was on sound lines.

The. candidate was accorded a vote of thanks.

COALITION IN OTAKI. ADDRESS BY MR. W. H. FIELD. [BY TELEGRAPH.—PRESS ASSOCIATION.] OTAKI. Friday. The Coalition candidate for Otaki, Mr. W. H. Field, addressed the electors last evening. He stressed the gravity of the crisis, which concerned not only the Dominion, but the Empire and the world. Labour members had refused to join the Coalition arid had strenuously fought against the economy measures introduced to help the country in its time of stress. A vote of thanks was passed. WELLINGTON SOUTH SEAT. MR. W. APPLETON TO STAND [BY TELEGRAPH. —PR ESS ASSOCIATION ] WELLINGTON, Friday. Mr. W. Appleton has been chosen as official Coalition candidate for Wellington South. The sitting member is Mr. R. McKeen (Labour). In announcing that he was withdrawing his candidature for the seat, Mr. S. T. S. Martin, who had been announced as an Independent candidate, stated this evening that he considered the, Coalition Government had made a wise selection in Mr. Appleton. A deputation this afternoon waited upon Mr. Martin Luckie asking him tc stand for the. seat, which he contested unsuccessfully last election. Mr. Luckio has decided to leave the field clear for Mr. Appleton to have a straight-out contest with Mr. McKeen.