Land Problems and National Welfare 



to the greatest number) it is held that a man 

 who stands for a division where agriculture is 

 paramount, and stands independent of the Party 

 whips, would be better able to look after his 

 constituents than the carpet-bagger who cer- 

 tainly represents a division but, frequently, by 

 no means represents his constituents. We do 

 not hear it said when a man is sent to West- 

 minster to represent the railway interest, the 

 brewing interest, or the N.U.T., that his division 

 is disfranchised as regards every interest except 

 that on which he depends for the funds to pay 

 his election expenses. Nor does that argument 

 hold good here. Any candidate standing in any 

 capacity whatever will have to give expression 

 to his views upon all general questions of the 

 day, and will be subjected to questions from 

 all the societies of faddists, as present-day 

 candidates are subject to them. Unless he can 

 pass through this ordeal in a way that satisfies 

 a majority of the voters he will not be returned. 

 It may be true to a strictly limited extent 

 that the interests of the three sections of agri- 

 culturists are not identical ; thus the landlord 

 wants as much rent as he can get, and the 

 tenant to pay as little as possible; or the labourer 

 as high a wage as he can obtain and the employer 

 to pay no more than he need. But these are 

 incidental domestic matters which fade into 

 insignificance beside the much more important 



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