THE FARMERS AND THE LAND

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXV, Issue 16492, 6 March 1914, Page 4

THE FARMERS AND THE LAND

TO TBJt EDITOR. Sir, —Mr Veitch’s remarks about the farmers and some newspaper comments thereon set 'me thinking. J recognise the fact that the farmers are ail exceedingly industrious class, and that they don’t belong to the kid-glovo parasitic. class; but I deny tho assertion that they are directly the backbone of the country, and believe that other healthy men placed on the land,, given tho same-good environment, encouragement and Opportunity would prove equally industrious. Then again, our scientific appliances that play such an important part in the production from the land, were not wholly dependent upon the brains and industry of the farmers. A’es, wo could change tho men on the land more easily than wo could change our stationmastors, postmasters or schoolmasters, even after takinginto consideration the fact that good, all-round, experienced farm hands are not easily obtainable. I have every respect for small farmers and would like to soo tho country alive with them, but let tho big fellows who aro developing swelled heads under Massoyism recognise their real value as a class of the community. As a worker, T recogniso I have a moral right. to fight for a. small piece of land to live upon or for some wage equivalent in value, and these big landlords fail utterly to blind my judgment. Tt is really tho land that is tho backbone of tho country.—T am, etc., FARM LABOURER,