PRODUCING FOR BRITAIN

Evening Post, Volume CXXXII, Issue 10, 11 July 1941, Page 4

PRODUCING FOR BRITAIN

(To the Editor.) Sir,—One reads with feelings of strong disapproval the views expressed in your correspondence column by Mr. G. H. Wilkin, who in the course of his remarks shows a deplorable ignorance of farming problems.1 It would not be practicable for me to go into detail to enlighten this correspondent, so, in order to correct any wrong impressions his letter may have created, I may be permitted to tell one little story. At the beginning of last season farmers were asked to produce to their utmost even to the extent that their outlay to secure the increased production might result in a loss on the year's operations. They were told that all the meat they produced up to Sep* tember 30 next would be purchased from them at certain rates per pound, and that they should endeavour to put an extra few pounds on to the animals whenever possible. The farmers generally set to with a will, but apparently they were too successful, and before the season was far advanced they were told that no more ewes over a certain weight would be i purchased for freezing, and later they i were informed that no more vwes at I all would be taken, and the embargo I extended to cover some other classes |of meat. The farmers' reply to this I treatment was not a stop-work meeting or a sit-down strike, but merely to ask the powers that •be what Was really required of the farmer so that [he could try again. Now, Sir, what would your correspondent do if he were engaged for, say, a month to do certain work, and at the end of this time his employer said, "I am very sorry but I find this duty you have performed is of no value to me and therefore I am not going to pay you"? At the present time the farmer i$ not looking for sympathy from Mr, Wilkin or from anyone else, but, together with every other decent-mind-ed citizen, he is concerned about the people of Britain, who cannot pur» chase three chops even if a £5 note were offered. They have to take the. ration .that is; handed to them' vor go without, and one wonders how news* papers would cope with the correspondence they would receive if our fellow-Gpuntrymen were of the same disposition as your correspondent.—l am, etc.. ' : D. CAMERON.