INDUSTRY UNDER LABOUR GOVERNMENT

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22359, 24 March 1938, Page 7

INDUSTRY UNDER LABOUR GOVERNMENT

TO THE EDITOR OF THE PRESS. Sir—l rather agree with your correspondent who signs himself “Cockatoo” when he says that his neighbour is selling part of his team. Quite a lot of my neighbours are doing the same, but they are replacing them with tractors for cultivation purposes and motor-trucks for haulage. As for dismissing men, “Cockatoo” and his friends, must be very bad managers indeed, for my neighbours are now employing more men than ever before, probably under one of the Government’s assistance to farmers schemes, whereby they pay three-quarters of the men’s wages, the hard-done-bv.

farmer being compelled to pay the remaining quarter, . I must agree also with the remarks made by Mr John Parlane as reported in “The Press” of Friday, in which he says that farmers will just about balance their budgets. That thCy will be able to balance their budgets can only be put down to their wonderful prosperity under the Labour Government, for unless they were particularly prosperous they would never be able to keep up their instalments on their new cars, trucks, tractors, and additions to their farms. One of my neighbours has all four of these, and in addition, a greatly Increased herd of cows. Practically every one of my neighbours within several miles has bought, within the last 18 months or so, a new car or truck, and in some cases both, or a car and tractor. Every herd of cows and flock of sheep has been increased, and every farmer is on the alert for land which io to let. even an acre or so not being despised, yime a number of my neighbours have taken up racehorses or trotters, no doubt because they cannot afford a more expensive, hobby. Yes. these haopy-go-lucky “grumblers” are no doubt having a very lean time, judging by appearances.—Yours etc.. ONE OF THE LUCKY “SUS” MEN. March 19, 1938.

TO THE EDITOR OE THE PRESS. Sir—The kindness and painstaking care of “Cockatoo” in pointing out to the general public how this Labour Government is determined to rum au our industries is amazing. Cockatoo must surely realise that many who read the correspondence columns oi “The Press” have intelligence enough to desire statements to be substantiated, as a mass of wild rambling assertions proves only one thing, i.e., that the outlook of the writer is limited by the boundary of his farm. If Cockatoo” is honest he will admit that he is on the land for what he can make out of it, and not with the motive of rendering a service 'Vo i.'cve couxvtEy the motive of profit applies to any man in business. If “Cockatoo” and his neighbours are not efficient, out they should go and make room for good men instead of whining about the Government or squealing to it for assistance; which means that the rest of the community has to foot the bill for “Cockatoo” and his neighbours’ inefficiency. The reason for the fall in. birth-rate he puts down to lack of domestic help. Has it ever struck him this way: that when a domestic previously employed on a farm gets married she decides that she will not bring children into the world to become wage slaves for some cockatoo. If the unemployed are the only ones who are flourishing, why does not “Cockatoo” advertise (“The Press offers a very good service in this respect) for an exchange of places, then he would have no need to worry about giving up wheatgrowing, etc. All he would have to do would be to drive up to the Labour Department in his stream-lined car and ‘ collect' the profit. (Sorry. I forgot, he should leave the car on the farm) but still, walking would be good for the health as with the unemployed mah’s income he would be able to procure very little else which would be good for it. If land has depreciated by 25 per cent., as stated by “Cockatoo,” it is a very healthy sign, as land is only worth what it will produce, and the root pf the trouble with the majority of men on the land is that they paid too much for it, and having been bitten, are like a small child who has grabbed a bee —they set up an unearthly din. The sooner this Labour Government cuts out wet nursing the farming community at the expense of the rest, the better. I should like to see the Government take over from inefficient farmers and put efficient ones in their places, the former farmer being employed on the place as ploughman or rouseabout, if he could hold the job down.—Yours, etc., ANTI-TRASH. March 21, 1938.