FARMERS IN POLITICS.

Waikato Times, Volume 104, Issue 17466, 28 July 1928, Page 11

FARMERS IN POLITICS.

MR W. J. POLSON'S VIEWS. UNION NOT A PARTY ENGINE. BUT CAN EXERT PRESSURE. (Special to Times.) WELLINGTON, Friday. In his presidential, address at the opining of the annual conference of the Farmers' Union on Tuesday, Mr W'. J. Poison took pains to explain to the delegates the difference' between the Union associating itself, as a union, with a political party, and members of the union, as individuals, giving their support to any party in Parliament that was seeking to promote the interests of the farmers. Any attempt to turn the Union into a party engine, he said, would undoubtedly drive out of the organisation men who had given it loyal and faithful service over a period of nearly thirty years and were entitled to hold their own party views without being challenged. "But," Mr Poison continued, "We should continue to keep the interests of the country as a whole in the forefront, while at the same time bringing all the pressure we are capable of to bear upon Parliament and upon parties in Parliament to obtain sound legislation for the benefit of our industry and the country, at large." It is just a question of where the Union's pressure begins and where it ends. An Independent Candidate. The Dominion with more than its accustomed alacrity rebukes Mr Polson for having dared to describe the present political situation as unsatisfactory. "Mr Poison no doubt, has been influenced in forming this opinion," it says, "by the rather unhappy outcome of his own recent public controversies with the Minister of Finance. He is not of that type which suffers rebuke quietly, even though it may have been administered in such form as to increase his stores of knowledge. Moreover, the fact cannot be ignored that Mr Poison cannot claim to be a dispassionate judge, for he recently disclosed his own political ambitions, and as a candidate in declared opposition to the Government he has seized the opportunity to do a little electioneering. Some may question the wisdom or good taste of including certain of the political references in his presidential address, but his acknowledged bias against the Government robs them of much of their importance.'' The fact that Mr Poison is seeking election as an Independent should have saved him from the reproach in advance of being against the Government. He has made it quite elear that he is placing principles before parties. Legislative Reform. Though the conference of the Farmers' Union does not permit itself the privilege of discussing party politics, it has no scruples in dealing with the constitution of the Dominion. At its meeting yesterday Mr A. A. Ross one of the Auckland delegates, tabled a motion to the effect that- the Legislative Council should be made an elective body in accordance with the law already on the Statute Book. Mr Ross did not poke fun at the revising branch of the Legislature. He simply maintained that it cost more than it was worth and did not adequatelv discharge the duties for whieh it was originally constituted. Among the humourists supporting the motion, Captain Colbeck stated that the Upper House was a pleasant place in time of trouble, but beyond that was not worth the money it cost. An amendment was moved to the effect that the council should be abolished altogether but it was rejected on the voices and Mr Ross's motion was carried practically unanimously. Mr Coatcs now has a chance to make a name tor himself The Prime Minister who dares to reform the Legislative Council along the lines designed by its present leader will reap a rich harvest.