FARMERS' PATRIOTISM.

Press, Volume LII, Issue 15772, 13 December 1916, Page 12

FARMERS' PATRIOTISM.

TO THE EDITOR OP ''TELE FRESS. Sir, —You. with many of tho public, ■will no doubt begin to wonder if the views, recently expressed by some South Canterbury farmers, and also by the Oxford County Council, are the opinions held by the. farmers in general on recruiting. I say emphatically they arc riot. Personally, I know one fariner who has sent his only son, two -who each eent two sons; and others who have done their share, ten or twelve sons of farmers having gone from Oxford,- but when Messrs Talbot and Mafcterson, of South Canterbury, and Messrs Campbell o.nd Wells, of Oxford, talk of lessening the quota, exempting farm labourers, etc., and this at a time when the Hon. Jas. Allen is straining every effort, to do all in his power for the Dominion, and for the Empire, in their darkest hours, I venture to predict that no council in New Zealand will carry, unanimously the motion carried by tho Oxford Council, and if such is patriotism, I am pleased to bo called unpatriotic. Now, Sir, the acreage under "grain crop in Oxford is small, and if every man of military age wss taken into camp, tho harvest, thanks to our women, our elder men, and our boys and to our girls, -would still Be harvested. Did tho Belgian farmer say, "Wait till we finish harvest"? Did tho French farmer do likewise? Not much. "Lp boys, and at them!'' was their cry, and msrry farmers in Oxford and in other parts say the same. But, in oonunon respect to our. hoys who have fallen in our defen'ce, and to all who aro now training to follow and to offer their lives for their country, let our public men show a better example. In my opinion, if such sentiment were expressed by wharf labourers or miners, a fine of £20 or £30 would follow for talk sgainst recruiting, and rightly so, and T would further suggest that the Oxford County Council and the "Ranirnga School Committee should both be asked.to resign t.boir positions on these pnblic, bodies. —1 ours. etc.. ' FARMER.Oxford, Dcccmbor 11th.