OPPOSED TO FARMERS

Waikato Times, Volume 124, Issue 20853, 11 July 1939, Page 8

OPPOSED TO FARMERS

GOVERNMENT SECTION STATE CONTROL THE AIM SIR AI CL HOLLAND'S CRITICISM (Special to Times) WELLINGTON, Tuesday The claim that there existed In the Government a certain section which was entirely unsympathetic toward all the aims and aspirations of the farmers was made by the Dominion president of the Farmers’ Union, Mr W. W. Mulholland, in his address to the annual conference to-day. He said the political situation today required serious thought on the part of farmers. “So far as representation in Parliament is concerned," said Mr Mulholland, "two political parties are at present almost clear-cut —town versus country, it is claimed by some 11 ja t there is in fact now a Country Party in existence. Let 11s examine the position. To-day we find the Labour Party, which contains quite a number of tanners, has an element in it which, if not actively opposed to the farmers, at all events is quite regardless of their interests. The aim of this section is complete State control of everything, if not Communism. "It is worthy of note that botli tiie mover and the seconder of the ad-drc-ss-in-reply in the present session of Parliament avowed themselves strong advocates of -State ownership and control of tiie means of production, distribution, and exchange. It is perhaps also significant that Mr Nash’s efforts to stabilise costs, to prevent the farming industry from being crushed out of existence, have been met by protests and strikes against the awards of the Arbitration Court in many important directions. Neither is it without significance that someone was able to prevent the lion. Mr Fraser from carrying out his intention of having an inquiry into the disgraceful situation which exists on the waterfront. It is apparent that a section which is entirely unsympathetic towards all the aims and aspirations of the farmers can exert a very great influence on the decisions of the present Government. Conservative Elements “On the other hand, it is not unknown 01* unnoticed that extreme conseravtive elements, particularly important people in the financial world, have in the past been able to exercise an entirely disproportionate influence on the policy and actions of previous Governments. At the present time they have, partly through fear of the consequences of socialism upon themselves, partly because they have been unsuccessful in retaining control, allowed the-National Party to adopt a policy which parallels in many respects the policy of the Farmers’ Union. “While the National Party remains in opposition its policy is not of immediate importance to these people. But it is well known that they are planning and plotting to obtain such control as would enable them, should tiie National Party become the Government, to force upon that Government actions and policies which are not. at all consistent with the farmers’ union policy. They are endeavouring to get control of important resources of tiie party, and they are endeavouring to inauguate under various guises important auxiliaries which they hope to control. “These ultra-conservative elements are as unsympathetic and as inimical to the farmers’ interests as the extremists on the other side. Nor can they be relied on to oppose even socialism, if socialism shows them a profit. They have on occasion asked tiie Government to institute State control, so long as it was State control of their competitors. They accept, and sometimes ask for, the grossest interference with the rights of individual provided it shows a financial benefit to themselves. We have some manufacturers to-day supporting exchange control because it lrees them from competition regardless of its ultimate effects. "We have seen big business interests doing their utmost to kill farmers’ co-operative movements, and making use of their political influence for that purpose. The farmers cannot afford to allow government to be under tiie control of either of these two extreme groups. The question at issue is, can farmers more effectively prevent them becoming masters of the situation by being inside the two existing parlies, or by establishing or supporting an independent third party? “Farmers are feeling to-day that they are face to face with a growing menace. They are feeling the pressure of rising costs. They see the results of a lifetime of frugality and effort melting Into nothingness. They hear strange doctrines throbbing through the ether extolling extravagance, sloth, and irresponsibility. They learn that exports are unimportant, and that a jazz band gets for a night’s fiddling more than many a farmer can make in weeks of hard work. “And they know that it is all wrong. They are looking to us for action. The wellarc of our country depends largely on tiie wisdom and sanity displayed bv tiie organised farmers of New Zealand in the next year or two. “It is a great responsibility that rests upon us. Gentlemen, we accept liiat responsibility."