FARMERS AND THE TIMES.

Evening Star, Issue 20672, 20 December 1930, Page 22

FARMERS AND THE TIMES.

TO THE EDITOK. Sir, —It is.with reluctance that I reply to “ E.C.F.,” whose reply acknowledges the fact that ho is the biter bitten. Tho vituperation displayed in ii is reply is second only to his obvious lack of knowledge of a subject upon which ho so hastily embarked. Perhaps it would have .been kinder to have viewed his weird opinions as a tragedy rather than a comedy. Such opinions as those held by “ E.C.F.” and his confreres of the Hillside Workshops leave one amazed at the amount of ignorance displayed by some unthinking persons in these days _of enlightenment through free education. One need hardly comment upon the fact that it is quite unlikely that such opinions are held by the clerical side of the railways, and certainly not by the professional side of our Civil Sendee. So long as tho stability of this country depends upon its agricultural and pastoral products people of average intelligence will realise that their prosperity and tho prosperity of tho country depends upon the results obtained from the efforts of tho primary producer, and irrespective of tho opinions of “ E.C.F.”- and

Ids confreres, wiser counsels will prevail and legislate to assist au'd protect tho source of our national wealth. As we have a great many friends in, and a great deal of respect for, the average Civil servant, 1 have no intention of being drawn into a discussion on such. As regards farming, the subject is too comprehensive, and no useful purpose would bo achieved in attempting to discuss it with “ E.C.F.” I, however, can assure him that no practical farmer would attempt to draw odious comparisons between farming in different countries, as such factors as soils, climatic conditions, latitude, topographical features, and others too numerous to mention render comparison futile. Unlike “ E.C.F.,” Ido not need to seek second-hand information on farming in Europe, having had tho opportunity to study it in more than one country on tho Continent, tho .majority of which arc industrial and none solely agricultural. I can assure “ E.C.F.” that the farmer of this country has proved in tho past and is to-day the most competent person to deal with farming and tho economic problems arising therefrom, In conclusion, whilst I do not doubt that “ E.C.F.” has derived his present attitude towards tho farmer from tho mental stimulus ho attributes to tho pick and shovel, and may be competent to write a thesis thereon, lie will, however, with a few more years and some disocrcticn realise tho soundness of tho concluding remarks of my previous letter. —I am, etc., I’LOfCnSIIAUE. llcriot, December IG.