WORKERS AND PRODUCERS

Lyttelton Times, Volume CVI, Issue 12569, 2 August 1901, Page 4

WORKERS AND PRODUCERS

'The reasons given'by the local butchers for the riss in the price of meat, though sound enough in themselves, will afford little consolation to those unfortunate housewives who are engaged in a constant struggle to keep their expenditure within their slender means. They will probably find some difficulty in following Mr Frostick's argument that the prosperity of the country is v mainly duo to the efforts of the shee'p and the cow. Looking at their butchers' bills, they will wander if they would have been any worse off themselves if these very useful quadrupeds had remained in their former obscurity. But, of course, a little reflection will satisfy them that the development of the frozen meat industry, which lies at the bottom of the increased prices, has benefited every class of the community. The housewife whe has to pay half a crown a week mors for her mutton and beef than she did tin years ago has little 'cause to complain if her husband's'wages have been advanced by four or five times that amount. At the same time it is only fair to remember that the working classes, who are.often accused of making a selfish use of their political power, have always been among the roost consistent supporters of the- Government's efforts to increase the farmers' profits. The frozen meat industry would doubtless have established' itself without the assistance of the, State, and the butchers' prices would have gone up if Mr Seddcn and his colleagues had never thought of promoting the sale of colonial products; but the dairy industry and half a dozen others of smaller importance owe much of their present flourishing condition to the viaprous

policy of the Government. The Agricultural Department has spent thousands of pounds every year for almost a decade in providing experts of one kind and another for the benefit of the producers, in conducting costly experiments, in importing stock and in erecting buildings, and the greater part of this money has been contributed by the very people who have to bear the burden of the increased prices and who are now accused of being hostile to the farmers' interests. The charge is ,as absurd as it is unjust, but it suits a certain set of politiciains to drum it into the ears of the producers on every conceivable occasion. They probably imagine that by setting one class against another they may obtain some advantage for themselves, but we have little fear that the farmers will be quite so simple as to allow themselves to be made the tools of their new-found friends.