FARMERS AND POLITICS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19250, 14 August 1924, Page 7

FARMERS AND POLITICS.

PROPOSED COUNTRY * PARTY. AUCKLAND TO LEAD THE WAT. " (Feom Cue Own Coeeespondent.) . ' AUCKLAND, August 15. That the Auckland Provincial Executive of the Farmers’ Union should lead the way in nominating candidates as representatives of the farmers for the next parliamentary elections was the unanimous opinion oppressed by the executive last evening. Mr A. A. Ross moved that a political committee bo formed, consisting of Messrs A.’ E. Harding, O C. Mxmro, R. D. Duxfield, and himself, with a view to taking some action, at an early date, the committee to consider the whole position and submit a recommendation to the next executive meeting. Mr Ross said the party’s candidates should be appointed at the first available opportunity. Auckland had apparently tp lea*l the dominion in this matter, and it required only an explanation of the aims of the party to ensure the support of the primary producers throughout the country., Mr J. S. Thompson said that unless * country party were formed the Labour F&rfcy would score very heavily at the next elections. The policy of the Government- was largely responsible for the present d&tpnes of the farmers, and the latter were ,c*>HS«k quontly seeking relief from sources-outside the Government. It had been a matter o£ surprise in Victoria and New South Waled that farmers had captured country opnstiiu-' encies regarded as strongholds of the Conservative Party, which coincided witty, Reform Party in this country. Mr W H. Allen asserted that members of the Retorm Party had said.-tW farmers were making propaganda but of their proposed agricultural bank. If the Government did not assist them, he said, they would be justified in taking Such! a step. Mr Duxfield said the principal ORjeotWfip had been that by entering politics farmers, would probably impair the Farmers’ Union? but in Auckland, on the contrary, gestion of political action had had the effebjt' of doubling the membership. The forhia-1 tion of a country party was the only itlf'firi 1 native offering for farmers at a time although prices for produce were never ib; good, distress was never so rife. It Was only ’by having the. throat of a country! party hanging over its head that the'Gdvernment had done anything at all to aid the farmer. L-, The motion was carried unanimo«?ly,