Patea & Waverley Press WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 1, 1920. FARMERS AND POLITICS.

Patea Mail, Volume XLIV, 1 December 1920, Page 2

Patea & Waverley Press WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 1, 1920. FARMERS AND POLITICS.

The recent proposal of; the Auckland Farmers’ Union that in future members should take an active part in politics has muck to commend it, but farmers should be on their guard lest, whilst endeavouring to protect their own interests, they play into the hands of the enemy, and throw away seats already held by members of the farming community. In other words, it will be the height of folly if members of Farmers’ Unions attempt to create a third party in this country —in the shape of a Farmers’ Party—in the hope of obtaining greater representation in Parliament. Farmers in New Zealand arc extremely fortunate in having a practical farmer at the head of the Government, and they should be content to let well alone in place of endeavouring to create another Party in the House. When the next General Flection comes round, farmers would do well to assist Mr. Massey and his Party so as to enable them to present a united front. In these days, when the Labour Party is striving by every means in its power to obtain the reins of Government, it would be worse than foolish if the farmers were to cause a split in the votes in each constituency, and allow the Labour candidate, with a solid and united Party behind him to slip in. This is the danger—and a very real one, by the way —that will stare the farmers in the face if they decide to form a separate Party of their own, and select candidates to contest the various seats when the next General Flection comes round. The trial of strength in tlie future should lie, not between the Liberals and Reformers, but between those who arc supporters of constitutional Government and those who are not. If New Zealand is to continue to prosper as it has of recent years, farmers would do well to take a far keener interest in politics than they have ever taken before, and at the same time refrain from setting up a separate Party of their own. At present there are no less than 41 members in the House of Representatives who are directly connected with the land, and if the farmers will only unite and assist the present Prime Minister there should be a still further number of farmers in the next Parliament. All fair-minded men must admit (hat the interests of the farmers have been well served by the present Government in fact, it is largely due to Mr. Massey’s personal efforts that they were enabled to enjoy such au unparalleled state of prosperity duing the war. The lessons taught by the Labour Governments on the other side of the Tasman ttca should serve to warn

farmers of the fate in store for Hi cm should they attempt to form :i Party of their own. and run candidates presumably against all-comers. The only hope the Labour Party has of gaining the reins of Government in this country is by the divided counsels and actions of those opposed tto them. Farmers should therefore htink twice before they play into their hands.