FARMERS AND THE WAR.

Press, Volume LII, Issue 15769, 9 December 1916, Page 10

FARMERS AND THE WAR.

ao THE EDITOR Of "THE PIIKSS." Sir, —At a meeting of the South Canterbury Executive of the Farmers' Union, Mr J. Paterson stated that throe out of four men drawn at the first ballot were farmers or farm labourers. This proves conclusively how i well the ordinary labour —the clerk, the tradesmen, the Civil Servant, the professional man—has answered to "the call," since it would mean that there arc three men on the land uncnlisted to every one of all the other classes together. With regard to crowing grain for export, I thought that even before the war >>"ew Zealand had ceased to be a grain-growing country, as farmers considered that grain did not pay; and I doubt that if all desired labour -\vero procurable "\ve would ever be grain exporters. With regard to grain for our own use, T am sure that with any reasonable organisation of the labour there need be no shortage. lam convinced that the Homo authorities attach more importance to our keeping up our quota than to the little grain wo may export. With" regard to hardship to fanners enlisting, I would like to ask if it is no hardship to tradesmen, doctors, lawyers, etc., who by hard -work and selfdenial have built up a business, to have to leave it?— Yours, etc., EQUALITY OF SACRIFICE. FARM LABOUR. TO XIIF. EDITOR OF "THE rr.ESS." Sir.—ls all tho talk of short-age of; labour for larvesting genuine, or is it merely an excuse invented for the purpose of enabling farmers' sons to dodge the ballot? I am a teacher in the Second Division, and liavc had a lot of experience in harvesting, both grass seed and grain, in every capacity, feeder, bagger, and engine-driver included, and though I say it myself, fifteen years ago (I am just over forty now), there were few men -who could give me any points 'with a pitchfork. Being impressed ]>y the cry of shortage of labour. I thought that, instead of going and having a holiday, I would offer my services for harvesting purposes during the Christmas vacation, and hoped that my example would induce others to do the same. What was the result? Not one reply to my advertisement. Hence T am forced to the conclusion that the shortage is not so acute as some people ■would have us believe, and that the reason is to be found in the latter alternative proposed \ above. —Yours, etc., TEACHER.