RAILWAYMEN'S DEMANDS.

Auckland Star, Volume XLVII, Issue 49, 26 February 1916, Page 11

RAILWAYMEN'S DEMANDS.

(To the Editor.) Sir, — Our railwaymen's suggestion. "That in order to meet their 'modeet' demand for an increase of 1/ per day wages, the Railway Department increase the freights on farmers' produce," is no doubt a very easy way of meeting the extra expenditure required—that is co far as they are concerned, but what about the other fellow? I suppose it does not occur to railwaymen that per haps the farmer ie heavily enough taxed as it is, and that already we are gradually killing, the hen that laye the golden I egg. Railwaymen think that from 9/[to 15/- per .day is,not enough for them [owing to the increased cost of living. [But has hot the farmer to bear his inI creases also? And if you keep on increasing hie burdens you only add still more to the cost of living.

i I venture to say that the average f i farmer : do<fi!'\no ; t : get.;<jii - vthing like 9/ per day for living" expenses, and neither [does ho receive overtime, though he , works from-10. to 10 hours*'daily. There : are many people' who imagine the farmer fe having a'very good "time, : 'and that he is cattily able to bear all the-taxation I placed■iipon-him.' The; averagfi' receipts 'of the small farmer, or dairy farmer, seldom exceed £300 to £400 per year, and ' in most cases much Ices. Out of this ! you must allow 0 per cent interest on, say, £4000, the average cost of hie 'farm, stock, machinery, etc. You must also deduct a large sum to cover wages, ! working expenses, manures, seeds, fencing and building materials, railway 'freights, carting, commissions, rates, taxes, etc. The trouble ie our farmers are, in most cases, far too heavily handicapped ,as it is, and if railwaymen.are anxious-; toiaesfal ..in deducing the : cost of living, it; would, be better'to to lighten and r i^t : 'tp increffieliis,burden. . ''-" ■ .' : .'• ' . ■ ' ■ • ■ ■ I W6.' hear a lot' about, getting, the I people on-the-, land, but, there is .really j so much heavy.,,work and grinding to ! make ends mcct 1 , that "too often , the; farimor,farmers''eons, and employees, give

it up in despair, and seek employment oh the railway, or in the cities, where higher wages and shorter hours are obtainable. To stop the 'flow of population into the cities and get a sufficient ! percentage of toilers on the land, more j concessions need to be given to the coun-1 try people, in the way of reducing railway freights, fares, rates of interest, the price of land, etc. The farming industry- is etUl the backbone of 'this coun. try, and too much assisiatfee cannot be given to it in order tb still" further' increase' our exports: If the price of his produce is a little high for a. time, no doubt he will be able to spend his extra earnings to advantage, but to keep on taxing him at the request of all and sundry is a very poor policy, and I hope j tlie railwayman's request will not be ; granted^—l am, etc.,. : " FARMER.