FARMERS’ POLITICAL PARTY.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXIX, Issue 80, 24 May 1911, Page 2

FARMERS’ POLITICAL PARTY.

DISCUSSION IX AUCKLAND. E y Telegraph.'—Press Association. Auckland, Last Night. '■ At the provincial conference of ths Fanners’ Union this morning, remits from the Matakoko and Kiokio branches? recommending the formation of a farmi ors’ political party in the Dominion Parliament, to safeguard the interests of farmers, were considered. The president, in introducing the remits, reminded the conference that the decision to fornj a farmers’ part}’ was made at the last conference. Taranaki, they knew, was with them. Canterbury was very energetically pursuing a policy in that direction, but they did not quite come out* into the open. It was not desired or proposed that the farmers of New Zealand should attempt to elect and send to Parliament members on the same footing as the present recognised parties, Government, Opposition or Dibor, whose objective was to obtain such a majority that they could form an executive who would carry on the whole public bust ness of the Dominion in accordance with their political views. The farmers’ party it was now desired to form was a combination which had for its object theweturn to Parliament of members for country constituencies who would engage: .themselves to watch all legislation affecting the man on the land, and bind themselves to vote unitedly for or against such legislation, in entire disregard of how it a (Trailed the status of the recognised political party at present in Parliament or the fate of any Ministry. Mr. Maxwell (Matakoke), who moved the remit, said agriculturalists we.rfi twon thirds of the population, and they should be fully represented in Parliament. Air. Judd (Kiokio) seconded the adop tion of the remit. The idea of his branch was that all branches should lie consulted in the selection of candidates, that it should not he left solely to the provincial executives. Mr. McGill (Waiuku) said lie thousrht they were not ready for a farmers’ party yet. He believed heartily in the movement, but to fail would discredit the Union and throw i.t back. The remedy was to exert themselves in organisation and in discussing farmers’ polities. Mr. Duckworth moved as an amendment to the remit, “That though it considers the formation of a farmers’ party desirable, this conference considers the time not mature to put it into operation, but farmers be- urged to support only candidates giving a pledge that they will support the Union’s platform.” There was a considerable amount of discussion when the question was put. The amendment was lost. The remit (that a party he formed) was carried amid applause.