Political Attitude of the Farmers’ Union.

Waikato Argus, Volume XXV, Issue 3850, 3 August 1908, Page 2

Political Attitude of the Farmers’ Union.

The most important as well as the most difficult question to decide at the recent Farmers’ Union Conference in Wellington was that of the future political attitude of the union, and the proposal which emanated from the Hamilton branch five years ago, that the union should take an active part in politics. The discusison, which was taken in committee, occupied nearly ten hours, and eventually it was decided by an overwhelming majority not to support the suggested coalition of the two political parties, and the following motion on the poiltical attitude was carried:— “That the time has now arrived when the union as a whole must take a more active part in politics, and a firm stand against Socialistic legislation, and that all farmers’ candidates be asked to pledge themselves to oppose all measures detrimental to the farming community, whether they may be Government measures or otherwise, and that in any electorate where more than one candidate pledges himself to do so, a meeting of delegates from eacli branch in the electorate shall be called by the premier branch, and such active steps be taken as are deemed desirable in the electorate to secure the return of a candidate who can be relied upon to support the union’s platform in Parliament, irrespective of party, and that this conference draw up a series of questions embodying the policy of the Farmers’ Union for use in electorates.”