xxii LOCAL POLITICS 221 



nature of their work and in many cases by lack of 

 communication from direct and regular participation 

 in politics. They found, as we find in England, that this 

 inability is taken advantage of by politicians, and their 

 interests were being subordinated to and made the 

 sport of party politics. They therefore formed this 

 association, which is pledged to have no part or share 

 in such politics, but simply exists to protect the interests 

 of agriculture and agriculturists. Possibly we could 

 do worse than have such an Association at home. 



The next step towards self-government will undoubt- 

 edly be the division of the country into constituencies, 

 which will each elect a member to form the opposition 

 on the Legislative Council. Such a transition stage on 

 the road to complete self-Government is an extremely 

 disagreeable one both for the Government and for the 

 governed. If this stage came now, it would, I fear, be 

 bound to continue for a good many years. My 

 impression is that the longer the step is delayed the 

 shorter will be this tiresome species of interregnum 

 and the quicker will come the ultimate development 

 and complete self-government of the country. 



