The Sun 42 WYNDHAM STREET, AUCKLAND FRIDAY, MAY 24, 1929. FARMERS AND POLITICS

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 671, 24 May 1929, Page 8

The Sun 42 WYNDHAM STREET, AUCKLAND FRIDAY, MAY 24, 1929. FARMERS AND POLITICS

HAVE farmers got any more reason than usual for growling at the conditions in their industry? This question has been answered effectively by the farmers themselves during the course of their annual conference this week in Auckland. It lias been made clear that they have less cause for complaint than have most other industries and organisations with, of course, the exception of the banks which, as always, represent the Dominion’s most prosperous industry. Consider, for example, the evidence submitted to the conference by its president, Mr. A. A. Ross: “Regarding farming progress generally, the past year lias been a highly satisfactory one for production and marketing. It has been the most wonderful season on record for the growth of pastures and crops, resulting in a record production of most of our staple products.” Outside of financial institutions, public houses, the Auckland Electric-Power Board and perhaps the alluring “talkies,” where else could one find in this country a similai record of reasonable, even notable, prosperity? And yet if any dispassionate observer had not heard or read Mr. Ross’s emphatic declaration at the opening of the Farmers’ Conference, the subsequent discussions would have tempted such an onlooker to infer that farming is the worst and poorest industry in the whole country. So bad and hopeless, indeed, and so much hedged about with economic and political conditions as to suggest that the only desirable and profitable industry left to enterprising men is to manufacture mousetraps and spring mattresses in the shelter of a protective tariff. Those who have read this journal’s comprehensive reports of the interesting conference on farmers’ affairs and problems must have noticed throughout and always with increasing confirmation that the stiffest problem of the man on the land is very little different from the problem of the manufacturer and the man in business or anybody else. This is the common experience that money is not easily earned, is difficult and dear to borrow, and once obtained does not go far on its power of purchase, whether the purchaser’s need be labour or luxury. Still, the farmers at least are obtaining a fair share of the money available. Moreover, the Government is in the forefront of lenders and, if everybody could believe it, is eager to advance money with both hands. Just think of what Sir Joseph Ward, the splendid squanderer, said yesterday to the delighted people of Motueka!: “There was plenty of money in the coffers and. there need he no pinching.” Quite so, hut money is easier at a political banquet than at a hank.

One tribute may and should he paid to the farmers in conference. This is the"outstanding fact that, unlike the representative politicians, they not only know their problems, hut know what they want. If, in the exercise of that knowledge in speech, they have shown more than a streak of selfishness, it can be said that such a weakness is a very common fault. But it should he recognised that there are more interests involved in the problems of farmers than those which appeal most to the farming community and, of course, the reverse side of this is equally true. Neither town nor country can or should he favoured at the expense of the other. The best course for both to take is to promote each other’s interests to the be_st advantage of all concerned. On the question of politics the present conference has refused to become a political organisation with a distinctive party policy. It has decided, however, to give full support to the Country Party, which is merely a unit, and to give serious consideration to making that party a strong political force. It has always been surprising that New Zealand farmers have not adopted the lesson from Australia, where, in the Commonwealth Parliament, the Country Party not only remains a sectional organisation based on the material interests of the farmer, hut exercises its balance of power sensibly by sharing responsibility in a composite Government without a fusion. There and thus, the Country Party has done better than anything likely to be gained from a policy of running with the hare and hunting with the hounds. FOOLISH SYDNEY STUDENTS PERHAPS there is an odd comparison between Sydney’s indifference to the defiant outrages of the timber strikers and its virtuous indignation over the latest turbulent exploit of a section of its University students. The strikers kicked and mauled volunteer workers in the streets, and burned a judge’s effigy as a sardonic challenge to law and order. The students had a more than usually riotous graduation night, and during the evening they extended what is popularly known as “the bird” to a number of justly indignant theatrical artists. Worst of all, they allowed a wholly irresponsible minority to damage the vases and wreaths on the Cenotaph, symbolic tomb of Australia’s dead soldiers. This outrage cannot escape condemnation. In men supposed to be reasonably intelligent and moderately educated it has a particularly offensive quality. But to condemn student escapades generally on this account would he as unjust as to attempt to varnish the objectionable features of this particular episode. Furthermore, it is possible to discern some sort of an affinity between the disturbance created by the students and the licence permitted the strikers. Unless the cables have exaggerated the seriousness of the students’ offence, the police were either very slow in acting or else were undecided about their attitude. The arrest and prosecution of two men can scarcely represent the proper extent of the law’s reprisals in so serious a case. Even if condign punishment is inflicted on the two arrested students, Sydney University will still have much to live down. The degree of its contrition may he inferred from the graceful apology made when 26 students filed past the Cenotaph and placed on it a wreath in token of regret. But the people must take care that their waxing indignation does not assume a false flavour. The proposal of an excited army officer that University sports teams should be ostracised for six months is laughable; just as laughable as it would be if the people of Australia 'declined to recognise the Cenotaph because it so happens that one or two men in the New South Wales forces were punished for desertion. There are weak links in every human chain—psychologically weak students just as there are psychologically weak soldiers and wharf labourers. Similarly there are students who take too much strong drink and do silly and even wanton things, just as labourers and professional men do in their moments of alcoholic folly. This is no reason why the stupid or foolish individuals should escape the punishment their offence merits. But it is a good reason why a little charitable consideration should be extended the huge majority of students who had no thought or intention of conniving at an insult to the Australian Army. •