FARMERS' UNION

Waikato Independent, Volume XXIV, Issue 2389, 28 October 1924, Page 5

FARMERS' UNION

NEWS FROM HEADQUARTERS. WEEKLY REPORT. (By E. Alexander, Official Reporter). Rallies throughout the districts lying immediately I-oith •*f Auckland, have now been emu pwte.: un i those en-gaged-report very satisfactory results. The meetings wer .• not exceptionally large, but great interest was shown, and it is quite certain Unit- the organisation of the Union will benefit to a considerable extent. Now. that political action has been decided upon it is most essential that all farmers should get in touch with the leaders of the Country Party movement so that they may understand what is niced at and what it is hoped to achieve. The farmer is, of course, entitled to retain his independence of thought, but he ought to be careful in his judgment and recognise that the interests of all primary producers are so closely united that tho natural bonds should promote solidarity in the Union ranks and bring into organisation those who have not already joined up. There are plenty of political enemies already ir. the field to do all in their power to side track the Country movement, and all sorts of specious arguments are raised to show why the farmer should sit by with folded hands and allow other people to manage—or mismanage—his affairs. But results in Auckland Province during the last few months have dearly indicated that, the period of apathy is passing away and the men on the land will again become n. live factor in the Government of the country.

FALSE ISSUES RAISED

The leaders of the political movement have time and ag.s’n pointed out that the formation of the Country Party does not necessarily mean an attack upon Ihe Reform Government, or upon the Liberal or Labour sections. But what it does moan is that, tho farmer is now out to battle for himself, and it is hoped ihat, the influence of the men who stand in the interests of ‘ the man on the land” will result in more justice being done to the primary producers and a more intelligent grasp being taken of the problems which now confront settlement, and production. Some politicians have already resented the utterances of the party leaders and have tried to obscure the issues raised, but the farmers are determined that all their cards shall be placed upon the table, and they rely upon the justice of their cause to win a large measure of popularity. FACTS WILL SPEAK. The more closely the claims of the nners are investigated Ihe‘more clear will be the evidence that they have much to demand from any Government which has the general welfare of the Dominion at heart. It is no use quoting the returns of occupation by Crown tenants to prove that the land is not “ going back,” and that production is not below standard in proport ion to population and the burden of taxation. Facts speak for themselves. Business men, financiers, commercial firms and the farmers themselves know that conditions in the country are not what they should be, and it is only arrant folly to raise arguments to obscure the real issue, which is the welfare of the Dominion. It is not micessarv to be a

statistician to ascertain the position. Owing to lack of cheap money adequate transport facilities, and the imposition of heavy taxation to bolster up secondary industries, the farmer finds it impossible to increase production. There is no such thing as standing still. The farm which is not improved must “go back” and it. is this “gong back” of the settled holdings which is such a disastrous thing for the country. The cities are already beginning to realise the position, and if the Country Party can do anything to stop the “ret” it will be a good thing for the whole Dominion.