Country Quota

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 19757, 11 October 1938, Page 18

Country Quota

Sir, —To the farming community, this matter is of very vital importance at the present juncture. It is advisable to state now just what “Country Quota” means. It is that the number of electors required to make up a constituency in a rural electorate is 2o per cent less than the total needed fo. an urban or town constituency. New Zealand is primarily a producing country and. therefore, it is liios. necessary that the farmers should hav< a vote in their own interests. Therefore, if there is any interference wit:, the country quota, making as it wouk for a in the number ol country seats, and, in consequence a., increase la town seals, the voting would 'be much against the farmer. Tlje New Zealand Farmers’ Union is not a political body, out when : matter like this arises, it must ■do its utmost for the farmers it repre sents to see that their just rights an, not taken from them. Prior to the las election. Mr. Savage, who was the, Leader of the Opposition, gave r. pledge that in the event of the Labors Party being returned to power, •tlv. country quota would not be interfsrec , with during the terms of the firs Parliament. That pledge has been kept but the Prime Minister will not nov give a pledge that he will not interfere with the quota if he is agaii elected to power. It is, therefore, no unreasonable that candidates shouic. be required to undertake to preserve the country quota if they expect support from the farmers. C. BLACKBURN. Secretary N.Z. Farmers’ Union