COMMANDEERING POLICY.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVII, Issue 17335, 25 November 1916, Page 8

COMMANDEERING POLICY.

THE PRODUCER AND THE .WAR., " ' j TO THE KDITOB. Sir,—As a farmer I would like to say that I quite' agree with the attitude you take re, the commandeering of our wool by the Government. Now, although the farmers aro ' to j some extent the backbone of the coun- ; try, and one readily admits that what- I ever injuriously affects them- injures the community* as a whole, still I think with you that this country is actually more prosperous than it was Ibefore the war started and that the , farmers should have accepted the j price first offered by the British Gov- \ eminent. The offer was a reasonable one which the growers 6honld have accepted cheerfully, looking; on the transaction as a means to sjiow appre- , ciatiou of the protection afforded by the Navy, and an opportunity to make a slight contribution to its cost. For without tho Navy staple products would be practically valueless. More particularly is my contention fair when we remember that we are. not spending the amount of money proportionately on the policing of the seas that some of the other dominions axe doAfter all, if the employers, be they farmers or merchants, give all the financial aid they possibly can give, what does it amount to compared _to what tho men give who aro being conscribed to go into the trenches ? Practically nothing. In fact, to my mind, the employer who is not willing . to give practically the whole of his profits so long as the war. lasts' towards its successful ending is not worth the powder and shot which his brother in* the trenches is expending on his .account, to say nothing of the flesh and , blood which* is being sacrificed on his I behalf.—l am, etc., 1 WALTER BUTTERICK. t WaJcanui, November 23.