CORRESPONDENCE

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXXV, Issue 8201, 26 July 1915, Page 2

CORRESPONDENCE

FARMERS AND THE WAR.

To the Editor " Guarpian."

Sir, —There Ls a feeling abroad, I know, that many people think that the present war has been a good thing for tho farmers; that all the big prices they aro now receiving are caused directly through the war. lam not sure that such a statement is true when the position is looked at fairly from all aspects.

In the first instance, the high price ruling for oats, chaff, and fodder is not the direct result of the war, but due to the drought, both in Australia and in the Dominion, and also to the fact that in tho previous year grain was soiling at such low prices—viz., oats at Is Brl per bushel and wheat correspondingly low; and that few fanners received very little profit after paying the high wages for inefficient labour and a -prolonged harvest by bad weather, resulting in shortage of grain sown iasi: year. . .

The present high prices of mutton, lamb, and dairy produce are not due to tho war, but., to the increased demand and short supply, but owing to t tho wo r the farmers have lost thousands; of'pounds .by.-not being able to dispose of their fat stock owing to ship-.; ■ping, troubles; stock has in many instances been grazed for three months awaiting space, and this at a timo when feed was very scarce. "With regard to wool, the war may be responsible for increasing the mand fit the present time. But at the time the farmers sold their wool—say, December and January last—there was very little demand owing to, the shipscare. So at. tho present time the only class that are participating in tho high prices arc the exporters and tho woollen mills, and not the farmers, as many people imagine. On tho other hand, everything the farmers have to purchase is dearer owing to the war. All imported seeds, implements, fencing materials, manures, cornsacks, and the whole cost of living is increased. Our legislators havo urged the farmers time and again to be patriotic and sow wheat, but wheat cannot, bo grown in New Zealand for export to compete with Canada and the Argentine, for various reasons—viz., the distance we are away from the Motherland and tho high price of land and labour. There: is certainly more probability of a scarcity of wool arid mutton in the future than there is for wheat,. and New. Zealand: is more -adapted for graz"ing and fattening- than it *is /for'; grain-; growing. The"; drought, 'is responsible' for the high prices of the farmers' produce at the present time and when a war tax is levied it will bo the farmers who will pay it. DECISION.