RURAL AREAS

New Zealand Herald, Volume 80, Issue 24699, 27 September 1943, Page 7

RURAL AREAS

THE FABMEBS' VOTES BETTER REPRESENTATION "A striking feature is that the Government has almost failed to secure any representation whatever in rural constituencies," said the secretarymanager of the Te Awamutu Co-opera-tive Dairy Company, Limited, when asked yesterday to comment on the result of Saturday's general election. In a few isolated cases, he said, Government success had been due to a highlyindustrialised block vote in the electorates.

"The farmer has spoken, and the Government can no longer delude itself or its supporters with the statement that the primary producers generally are satisfied and that the apparent unrest was due to a few 'anti-Government agitators.' " The dairy industry would find itself in a most fortunate'position in the new Parliament, said Mr. Sinclair, because its cause would be greatly strengthened by the addition of some of its ablest leaders who had an intimate knowledge of its problems. "The contrast between the support received in the city and country districts must give the Government food for thought," he said. "The prosperity of this country after the war cannot be built on things accomplished in she cities. Speaking for the dairy farmer, 1 am convinced that he will co-operate in every way • possible to secure the maximum production possible if only the Government will meet him halfway. The first step in that direction would undoubtedly be the formation of a National Government representative of all sections, because in the new Parliament the Governpient will have no member who can justly claim to represent the primary producers."