FARMERS & POLITICS

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 7448, 24 May 1911, Page 1

FARMERS & POLITICS

IS THE TIME RIPE? AUCKLAND FARMERS’ UNION WANTS A PARTY. punas association. 1 AUCKLAND. May 23. At tho provincial' conference of the Farmers’ Union this morning remits from the Mata toko and Kiokio branches recommending the formation of a farmers’ political party in 1 the ’ Dominion Parliament, to safeguard tho interests cf farmers, were considered. The president, in introducing the remits, reminded the conference that tho decision to form .-a farmers) party wasraade at the last _ conference. Taranaki they ik,new was with them. _ Canterbury was very energetically ■ pursuing a policy in that direction, but tuey did not quite come out into the open. It. was not desired or proposed that- the farmers of New Zealand should- attempt ■to elect and send to Parliament members on the same footing as the present recognised patties—Government, Opposition, _or Labour—whose objective was to- obtain such a majority that they could form an executive which would carry on the whole public business of the Dominion in accordance with their political views. The fanners’ party it was- now desired to form was a combination which had for its object the return- to: Parliament of members for country constituencies who would engage themselves to watch ail legislation-affecting the man on. the'.land and hind themselves to vote unitedly for or against such legislation, in entire disregard of how it affected the status of recognised political parties at present in Parliament, or of tho fate of any Ministry. Mr Maxrvell (Matatoke). who moved .tho remit, said agriculturists werq ".twothirds of the population, and they should •be fully represented in Parliament. - " Mr Judd (Kiokio) seconced the adoption of the. remit. The: idea ■ :pf-■ his branch: was that all branches should bo consulted in the selection ot candidates, and, that it should not be-left holejy .to the provincial executives.. , ■. "■ ;’ ) Mr McGill (\Vaiuku) said -ho: thought they-were not ready for a farmers’: party yet. Ho • believed heartily .in- the prove- 1 ment, but; to-fail would-discredit)' the union and throw it back... The j remedy was to exert themselves in organisation and in discussing farmers’ politics, ; Mr Duckworth moved: as an. amendment “That though it considers ; the formationriof.a (farmers'. ,party) de-sirablo, this conference , considers, the ; r.timenot mature, to:;,put.;it); .into)operation,, i’.t.hut farmers be urged to: support; only candidates givihg a pledge that- they will'support the union's platform.” ~ 1 There, was considerable) discussion. When the question was put the ’amendment -was lost,, and the - remit ; carried, amid applause. ... .