THE COUNTRY PARTY.

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

THE COUNTRY PARTY.

OUT FOR THE FARMERS. Mr A. A. Ross, leader of the Country party and candidate for Thames at the general election, addressed a meeting at Ngatea on Saturday, and said the producing population had not had fair representation in Parliament; but they wanted no town versus country antagonism. The intention of the neiw party was to get men returned to Parliament to look after farmers' interests. Farmers were opposed to excessive public expenditure; the present labour arbitration system had failed. He advocated that a public inquiry should precede a round-table conference, 'and the public should be represented. He attacked the embargo placed on exports by the Government in past years. That on hides, potatoes, and butter was paid for 'by the farmers. A country party in the House would have insisted on discussing those proposals. The soldiers' settlement scheme had been bungled. The Country party advocated settlement on native and virgin country in blocks sufficient for twenty men, which would have entailed less expenditure than settlement on high-priced land. All the successful candidates of the new party would not support any particular party on a question affecting farmers. -They would support the farmers' interest, but in other political matters would support any party they thought fit.