FARMERS’ POLITICS

Otago Witness, Issue 3510, 21 June 1921, Page 10

FARMERS’ POLITICS

HAVE VIEWS CHANGED? AUCKLAND, June 14. The formation of a Farmers’ Political Party was referred to last evening by Mr A. A. Ross in his presidential address to the Auckland Farmers’ Union Conference. He said that a remit which was unanimously adopted at the last annual conference affirming the desirability of forming a farmers’ poltical pajjty was placed before the Dominion Conference, where it met with considerable opposition. It was decided to refer the matter back to the provinces, so that, delegates c-ould come to the next Dominion Conference with instructions how to vote. “The indications are. that when it comes up again it will he rejected,” said Mr Roes, ‘‘and if this should happen some action will have to be taken to have the matter settled definitely. So far as this province is concerned. there is an impression among members that the union is altogether barred from politics, but this is a mistake, as in the book of objects, iules, and platform of the union, it is clearly set down that one of the objects is to secure proper representation of farmers’ interests in Parliament. This, 1 take it. was what was in the minds of t-bo delegates at the last conference, and it will be Ihe duty of the incoming executive to ascertain if members of the union still hold the same views, and if so, to take the necessary steps to carry the decision into effect in this province. The other provnees will doubtless follow if the idea succeeds here, and we may in a few years see farmers in New Zealand taking the same position in national affairs as they have clone in other parts of the Empire, with great benefit to themselves and to the whole community.