COUNTRY PARTY.

Waikato Times, Volume 111, Issue 18642, 21 May 1932, Page 6

COUNTRY PARTY.

OFFICIAL SUPPORT GIVEN*

BY AUCKLAND CONFERENCE,

FARMERS’ UNION POLICY. (Special Reporter). AUCKLAND, Friday. A decision to give official support to the Country Party was made by the Auckland Provincial Conference of the Farmers’ Union to-day. A remit was carried unanimously expressing the opinion emphatically that the lime had arrived when the Union should support 'the political party which was pledged to place definitely the major planks of the Union in the forefront of its policy. As the Country Party was the only one to give this pledge in toto the Union should officially support it.

A Smaller House. A proposal that the House of Representatives should be reduced by half was thrown out by a large majority at the Auckland Provincial Fanners’ Union Conference to-day. Mr A. E. Robinson regarded the members’ salaries as a mere drop in the ocean of public expenditure. They were the lowest in the Empire. and the members were in Parliament to watch expenditure. He believed that any attack of the numbers of members would affect detrimentally the country quota. He pointed out the areas of land which had to be covered by ■members in this country were very much larger compared with those in the constituencies, in England.

Preferential Voting.

Other political remits were passed as follows:

"That the Upper House be reduced to twenty members, to be elected by the people." "That to ensure that each member of Parliament shall have been elected by a majority vote, the elections should be conducted under the preferential voting system.” “That the funds of political parties should be subject to a special audit by a Supreme Court Judge and that they be sworn to by those responsible as not having been contributed under any secret promise or pledge of special legislation."

FINANCIAL HELP.

FOR POLITICAL ASPIRANTS,

MUST SUPPORT UNION. (Special Reporter.) AUCKLAND, Friday. Any political candidate who is prepared to accept the total platform of the Farmers’ Union and who undertakes to place the interests of the union above those of party will he assisted financially if the executive carry out an instruction given to it by the Auckland Provincial Conference of the Farmers’ Union to-day. Mr D. B. Higgins (Matamata) pointed out that last year the remit was passed with the word “recommends” instead of “instructs."

Mr F. Colbeclc (Morrinsville) said every politician would say he supported the union’s platform, but would not when it came to a vote of confidence. At present the resolution was most dangerous. It would mean that the union would lose its money by putting men in Parliament who would vote against the farmers’ platform on a vote of confidence.

Voice: I propose we leave it in the hands of the Country Party executive. (Laughter.) Mr G. Hodgson (Kaitaia) contended the Farmers’ Union was a political organisation. Every member who was loyal to the union’s platform should support the remit. The remit was adopted.

TO-DAY’S SPORTS ISSUE.

WINTER RACE MEETINGS. WAIKATO AND ASHBURTON. Tho sports edition of tho Waikato Times to-day will contain a descriptive acoount of the racing at the Winter meeting of the Waikato Club at To Rapa. Results of events on the programme of the Ashburton Racing Club and details of pastimes In all parts of the Dominion will also be published.