THE WAIKATO SEAT.

Waipa Post, Volume XX, Issue 1244, 18 May 1922, Page 7

THE WAIKATO SEAT.

FARMERS' UNION CANDIDATE. BRANCH SUGGESTIONS INVITED. A meeting of farmers, under I'ie auspices of the New Zealand Farmers' Union, was held in the Council Chamber, Cambridge, on Monday afternoon, for the purpose of considering ithe selection of a farmers' candidate for the Waikato electorate. The chair was occupied by Mr J. S. Fisher who, in opening the meeting, introduced the principal speakers of the afternoon—Colonel R. C. Allen, Captain F. Colbeck, and Messrs A. A. Ross and R. D. Duxfield. Amongst those present were Messrs R. H. Feisst, S. H. Judd and W. Stopford, secretary of the local branch of the N.Z. Farmers' Union. After welcoming the visitors, Mr Fisher explained that the object of the meeting was to consider whether the farmers should bring forward a candidate to* contest the Waikato seat at the forthcoming election, and if so, to choose one. He then called upon Mr Ross to address the meeting.

This speaker said there was no need for him to discuss the events leading up to the present position, nor to impress- upon them the importance of the question they were there to consider. It had previously been decided that the farmers shouil lake no definite part in politics, and they should aim first at uniting all the farmers in the country, and then decide what party they should support. However, it had now considered advisable for the farmers to put forward a .separate candidate independent of all the other parties, and that various seats in the disrtict, amongst them the Waikato, should be contested. He hoped the meeting would decide to support a candidate, and that having done so, they would set up a committee to appoint a suitable candidate, reporting their decision to the meeting. The suggestion was then put in the form of a resolution, and Mr Fisher asked for opinions to be expressed. Mr J. T. Johnson's Intentions.

Mr Judd intimated that at the meeting of the Cambridge branch of the Union, held on Friday last, Mr Ross had been asked to interview Mr J. T. Johnson in the hope that he would stand as a candidate for the Country Party. Mr Ross stated that Mr Johnson felt he could not stand in their interests. The speaker hoped that a candidate would be selected from the Cambridge district, contending that such a large farming community should be represented. Mr Fisher again expressed the great disappointment that had been caused by Colonel Allen's refusal to stand, and thought it would be hard to find another suitable candidate. Mr Judd stated further that the branch meeting last Friday had agreed that even if Mr Johnson would not stand, they should select another candidate. However, the candidate must be a thoroughly capable man—one who was sure of victory. Captain Colbeck considered it was not necessary to have a man who was sure of election. By supporting a candidate,, the Farmers' Union was going to do itself an immense amount of good, by uniting all the farmers in one common cause, even if the candidate were not successful. When speaking at other meetings on the question he had been told that it was preposterous to bring forward a man who would represent qnly one section of the community. The farmers, said Mr Colbeck, wished to support the interest of the whole community as much as any other party. , The farmer had been dictated to by tradesmen and labour long enough. It was now time the farmer had a voice in legislation himself. They produced the wealth of the country, surely they should be repiesented in its government. If they could not get the" best man, they would get the best they could. The Question Deferred. On rising Mr Duxfield said the motion before the meeting was an awkward one for him to speak on as it (really concerned this district, so he would just speak on generalities. He certainly thought it would be foolish not to contest tht seat. What was needed in the House to-day was criticism. There was too much legislation pushed through without their hearing of it. He hoped the farmers' representative would enter the House and give a criticism of the legislation, not destructive crtiicism, but such as would improve it. Colonel Allen advised the meeting not to miss the opportunity just because the first one or two they had chosen could not stand. There were plenty of suitable candidates in the room.

After the motion, previously mentioned, had been carried, Mr Fisher moved that the members of the local branch of the Farmers' Union present form a committee to nominate a candidate, and that this committee should have power to add to *ts ; number mem-

bers from other branches of the Union. This motion was also carried. The committee then held a meeting and framed the following resolution: " That the selection of a candidate be 1-ft over until suggestions had been received from the other branches of the Union in the district as to a suitable candidate."