RELATED TOPICS 251 



social order can best be realised in its relation to this 

 general tendency. Two early mottoes of the Union were, 

 "Policy not party," and ''Defence not defiance." 

 The record of the achievements of the Union shows that 

 it has been an important factor in moulding legislation 

 in the Dominion. In some respects this legislation was 

 very contentious, especially that referring to land 

 tenures. It is claimed for the Union that it was 

 responsible for the Land Act of 1912, which reversed 

 almost completely the land policy of the Dominion 

 during the preceding 20 years. In fact, this was one 

 of the main questions upon which the election of 1911 

 was fought. Whatever may have been the intention 

 of its founders the Union has found it almost impossible 

 to keep clear of politics. To secure its policy it has 

 turned to the legislature, and, justly or unjustly, has 

 often been associated with a certain brand of politics. 



But during recent years the activities of the Union 

 have shown more and more its tendency to class interests. 

 This is clearly shown in the words of the President, 

 Sir James Wilson, when giving an account of the work 

 of the Union.* After dealing with the progress of the 

 agricultural and pastoral industries during the last two 

 decades of last century, the President spoke of the 

 restiveness of labour and the forcefulness of some leaders 

 of Trades' Unions. He even goes so far as to say that 

 the Union was formed as a combination -of farmers, "so 

 that their side of the case might be heard, "t Further, 

 the President wishes "to emphasise the determined 

 attitude we have adopted towards Socialism, Land 

 Nationalisation, Single Tax Theories, Syndicalism, and 



*See "The Journal of the Canterbury Agricultural and 

 Pastoral Association." Vol. I., 3rd series, page 28, (April 1913). 



tThe first Annual Conference does not support these words, 

 and I am assured by one of the founders of the Union that such 

 was not the cause of the origin of the Union. What it does 

 show is the inevitable tendency already spoken of above. 



