POLITICAL SITUATION

New Zealand Times, Volume XLIX, Issue 11393, 14 December 1922, Page 5

POLITICAL SITUATION

MR POLSON’S OPINION FARMERS’ UNION MAY TAKE ACTIVE INTEREST. PRODUCERS’ STANDPOINT. Per Press Association. WANGANUI, December 13. Interviewed to-night regarding the politioal situation, iVlr W. J. Dominion president of the Farmers Union, said the elections have created a situation which, failing another general election, must be regarded by all producers with grave concern. AVhen parliament meets one of three things will probably occur: (1) a working arrangement between tne Liberal Party and the Reform Party, or between certain members of the Liberal Party and Reform Party; (2) a three party House with Labour holding the balance of power; (3) a Government without an actual majority of its own, but kept in power by the support of one or two fiom the Independents or the Liberal Party, or both. The effect of the first of these alternatives would indubitably be to make Labour the official Opposition with the consequence that the Liberal Party, which is the proper alternative from the point of view of the producers to the Reform Party, would soon cease to be a political factor and to disappear. Labour would then, sooner or later, obtain the opportunity to apply socialism and Sovietism to this country. In ihe second alternative Labour would be able to drive the Government into legislation along Labour lines much to the disadvantage of the farming community. “AVhen we consider the pledges made by the leaders and supporters of both the other parties, we must refuse to contemplate such an alternative, and this brings. us to number three, viz., that some of the Independents and one or two Liberals will keep the Government in power in order to avoid another election. A DEFINITE PROGRAMME. “It must be at once apparent that none of these alternatives can be contemplated with any satisfaction by producers generally, and the Farmers’ Union in particular. AVe have a very, definite programme which wo consider in the interests of the whole of the community and essential for the future prosperity, not only of the producers, but of the Dominion. AVe will have little chanoe of getting leg islation along such lines, or indeed along any lines, if the third of the above alternatives is the expedient adopted for goverhing~"'the country, and the objections to numbers one and two are self apparent. It seems probable that under these circumstances our organisation will be compelled to take a more active interest in party politics than it .has hitherto done, if we are not going to allow ourselves to he overlooked in the political card shuffling of the next few months. The Farmers’ Union has represented a very large and rapidly growing section of the electors hitherto, and latterly, possibly to our detriment, because I am not going to pretend that the Massey Government has given us what we want. NON-POLITICAL BODY.

“We have carefully avoided anything that would provide tfip colour of suspicion* that we we»e taking any part in party politics. But it may be necessary, aid I wish to point out the possibility, to seriously consider the question, during the next few weeks, and make it clear that we are A united body with very decided views. There is of course, still the further alternative of another election. Such a contest would be under a very different set of conditions, and might necessitate very definite, action if our interests are not to be stUI further sacrificed.”