THE FARMERS' UNION AND POLITICS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2985, 31 May 1911, Page 14

THE FARMERS' UNION AND POLITICS.

However much the Farmers' Union may desire to a true farmers' Parliament—find in these days of Socialistic propaganda it is absolutely vital that the largest industry in the Dominion should be capably and adequately represented in the House of Representatives, —first and foremost it should endeavour to lift agriculture above the petty bickerings of party politics, above the bargaining and concessions O'f ambitious politicians, whose crede is to " get in " and turn the other fellow out, and help to sever it as much

as possible from politics as they exist in New Zealand. The union can exert all the influence it needs in the House by sending men there pledged to support its own programme. The union should consist of a! t shades of political opinion mutually agreed to joint action. As soon as it attaches itself to one party in politics there is a split in the camps, and its usefulness is undermined. All shades of politicians, if members of the union, can insist on their representatives maintaining a proper attitude toward sagricultural questions, which really means having a due regard for the welfare of the Dominion. On national grounds it is necessary to secure and maintain direct parliamentary representation which shall wage eternal warfare against all Socialistic fads like the single tax, and see that the interests of those tilling the soil shall be properly conserved and safeguarded when questions of so-called land reform crop up. That is an entirely different position from one having for its objective the control of the whole public business of the Domini>>i in full accordance with the political views of either party. The union should be an offensive and defensive alliance which studies agricultural needs in all their bearings, thinks about little but agriculture, insists on the agricultural point of view having sufficient prominence, and is firmly united to uphold agricultural needs against allcomers. It should send men to the House of Parliament who have promised to support its programme —men who have courage, strength, and selfreliance enough to uphold a proper attitude towards agriculture in the House. In combination they would make the land laws and land policy of the Dominion. They would see that the feeling of insecurity of tenure which exists at the present time would be dissipated. They would criticise every item with which the Department of Agriculture has to deal. They would see that farmers were not taxed off the face of the earth, and remind the House of the formidable list of rates and taxes which they pay already.' They would call attention to the property tax:, the income tax, county rates, road board rates, river rates, and drainage rates. They would point out that a farmer has in the first place to make a living off his land before he can pay anything; that most farmers either have rent to pay or interest on a mortgage, and after , they enumerate what all these amount to they might add hk contributioins to the Customs. Without touching on party politics, these questions and many more could be profitably dealt with by the union, and effectively dealt with; and here is the crux of the whole question, if the union was supported as it deserves to be by all the leading farmers throughout the Dominion. Such, however, is not the case at present. Until farmers' eyes are opened to the vast and vital importance of supporting their union, it does not matter much what platform it selects. Very little good will be done. It is a sound prethflt, "united we stand, divided we fall." The inherent spirit of self-reliance is hard to get over, and is one of the firmest traits of a farmer's character. So firmly is it imbedded that independent action has hitherto been regarded as desirable, and can claim to its credit what progress has bsen witnessed in this country for the last 60 years. But circumstances alter—• and what chance has the individual farmer against the power behind the Federated Labour Union. When a united front has to be faced, the absence of co-operation and organisation becomes an obstacle instead of an aid to progress. And although the farmer is handicapped by distance in attending meetings of his union, he should make a point of doing so, and in cooperation Math all fchadtea of political opinion steer clear of party politics, and take a combined and effective stand on purely agricultural interests.