The Waipa Post. Published on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays. SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 1922. COUNTRY AND POLITICS.

Waipa Post, Volume XXI, Issue 1210, 25 February 1922, Page 4

The Waipa Post. Published on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays. SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 1922. COUNTRY AND POLITICS.

A PLEA for a country party in politics'' has been put forward toy the Auckand Provincial Farmers' Union, and preliminary steps are now being taken to launch the new party in the political arena. One can only hazard, at this juncture, the extent to which this movement may grow, though at the moment it appears to be but one of those momentary lights which illuminate the political horizon in advance of a general election. Very certainly the

Union, itself is not over-enthusiastic a/bout the project, and even the Dominion president, when taxed on the point, questioned all the activity that is emanating from Auckland, and equally certainly the mood of farmers is such as to suggest scant support from the electorate. All things considered, it may 'be surmised that i

the Country Party will have a short life and that, 'by the time the election is over, it will have slipped into the realm of might have ibeen. The question at the moment is as to whether scope or necessity exist for a new party in the politics of New Zealand. Looking to policies of 'both of the existing main parties, they are largely dominated by the consideration of country affairs, and, indeed, it is difficult for the watchful elector to discover any r»ai demarcation between the rival factions or to discover any material loophole for a new party to enter. Land tenure—the old bugbear of the parties—has been brought

to the point of common interest since all are now tacitly if not actually pledged to the freehold. Look Avhere you wi'll it is hard to discover any poli'cy question which could better serve the country than is already in the platform of parties which would be allied were it not for the sentiment between ' ins " and " outs." So that on what foundation the new country party can build remains to be discovered. Moreover, the 'country has already a very strong representation in the House, and it is necessary that care be exercised lest a further division of country votes would not permit of other influences swaying the elections and reducing the number of farmers in Parliament. It may be true that in other countries a country party has succeeded at the polls; but that is no precedent for New Zealand, where policies of existing parties are so framed as to preserve and protect country interests. Virtually we already have a country party, whereas in other lands other influences may have had to be ousted from office. If we judge the position aright there appears to be much more personal ambition than national necessity behind the movement which is ushered in by the Farmers' Union for a country political party—a fact which of itself should neutralise any benefits which a more genuine and public-spirited effort might have placed at the disposal of electors.