COUNTRY INTERESTS.

Otautau Standard and Wallace County Chronicle, Volume IV, Issue 168, 21 July 1908, Page 2

COUNTRY INTERESTS.

REPRESENTATION IN PARLIAMENT.

THE SUGGESTED PARTY.

WELLINGTON, July 16. The question of reviving the country party m Parliament has been resurrected by the evident intention of the Farmers' Union to take a more active part m politics. The desirability of such action being taken will form one of the principal subjects for discussion at the approaching conference of Farmers' Union delegates iv Wellington. With a view to ascertaining the feeling of country menibers of the present Parliament your representative last night gathered a number of interesting impressions. "We had such a party m the House thief years ago," said Mr Hogg, of Masterton, a staunch advocate of tbe farmers' interests. " That party was not a success, and I am not desirous of seeing aft ither attempt to revive it. It means that town and country members fail to pull toother. That is not desirable, and m r.ty opinion it is infinitely preferable th it corntry and city "members should -^ot'l* togethei for the general benefit ..f the conn- unity." ■ Mr Buddo, of Kaiapoi, when interviewed upon the subect m question, exf r .ojjd the opinion that whatever i pht be t:ic c.esiros and ideas of the V;u' : ii-Ve' Union upon the matter, be w: s quite convinced that the proposals would' receive but little favor m the South Island. " Though I would not go so far as to express the opinion that the Farmers' Union are likely to identify their interests with the Opposition," said Mr Buddo, "there is evidence that their leaders, undoubtedly do so, and as the rhajority of small farmers are m favor of the Government, a hopeless split would follow any attempt to drive all the farmers into one political camp. The settlers fully realise the great benefit • Labor has derived from an alliance with the Liberal party, but there are always to be found strong economic reasons why those ou the land differ m, politics." Mr W. Jennings, Taranaki's representative, also spoke strongly against any such proposal. Tlie creation of a. third party,' ' he .said, "is not warranted. The Government are adopting a .policy which must commend itself to the settlers. This is demonstrated by the fact that Sir Joseph Ward has recently declared his intention of spending a million of money m opening up the back-blocks. Further, than that, reference was made m the Budget to the fact that the Government intend pursuing a special settlement policy m buying up large areas, and after cutting them up disposing of them to the settlers as freehold selections. When it is evident that the settler is being well looked after there can be no need for such a party as that suggested." Mr F. W. Lang, when asked for his opinion, said that the. desire of the Pajpkkura farfners and other branches of the Union had not been made very explicit, but he strongly believed m the advisability of the country returning menibers to Parliament who coidd be trusted to act faithfully m the interests of the farmers and settlers. That the farmers should select representatives to watch their interests he considers natural enough ; • but on the proposal to create a country party m the House he prefers not to express any definite opinion until he knowswhat'the exact nature of the proposal is. " I am as certain as it is possible to be certain about anything," said a leading member of , the Opposition, "that tbe next Parliament will find 'a strong country party Within the House. The Farmers' Union are going to play a big part m the coming elections. .The Auckland and Taranaki branches of the Union are determined that they shall enter politics, aud even if the Colonial Conference to be held m Wellington this month do not decide to include a political policy m their platform, it is certain that many of the Northern unions will take a decidedly' active part m the approaching campaign. I do not say that the members of .any of , these unions will lend themselves to . either Government or Opposition, but m every constituency the electors will agree upon a candidate best j calculated tq represent the country interests. The result will be that the next Parliament will most assuredly include a strong country, party. Another point worth making is "jhat those who are desirous of seeing tbe formation of a party are the small farmers, and not the large landowners."