Farmers and Patriotism
Maoriland Worker, Volume 8, Issue 318, 28 March 1917, Page 8
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Farmers and Patriotism
Another extract from the "Farmers' Union Advocate": "If the Government is iv earnest about the increase in the production of food let them at once treat tho farmers as business men and make a proper contract as to the prices lo be'paid when the article is produced; that is to say if (hey want mure wheat, more potatoes, more milk, let them offer tho farmer a guaranteed minimum price, with an opportunity of making moro if tiio markets are better, and at tho same time make plans of some kind for tho provision of-necessary labor." Cool, isn't it? Tor what does it mean but "a guaranteed price with the right to ignore the guarantee if tho market suits; and, besides, the Government to make "provision of necessary labor." Conscript it, perhaps, for wo read in another part:— "There is no denying that there is a very large number of workers in oiir towns and cities unsinted for military service -who might in a, short time become useful .farm hands; but the difficulty is to mako them understand that their duty lies that way, and whether they can ho made available will depend very largely upon the success of the National Efficiency Board's efforts to organise the industrial resources." No conscription for the farmer, but industrial conscription for the farm j laborer. I
