THE GOVERNMENT AND THE WORKING MAN.
TO THE EDITOR
Sir,—l notice, in reading HansarW, No. 23, page 617, Mr Kidd (Auckland City) asks the Government the following question: "Whether, in view of the enormous increase in the price of potatoes, consequent on the blight, 1 which has affected the crop, they will | consider the advisability of remitting the duty on imported potatoes until a reduction of prices eventuates, and thus minimise the effects of this unexpected blight on the cost of one of the staple articles of food in New Zealand? " The Hon. Mr Mills (Commissioner of Trade and Customs) replied: '"The duty on potatoes being in accordance with the law, cannot be remitted. From enquiries made, it h believed that the present high prices are only temporary." Mr Mills, in his usual bumptious style, refuses to remit the duty on potatoes, and yet he has the audacity to pose as the work-ing-man's friend. Like a good many rroi-e working-men, I have come to the conclusion that it is high time thf. wevkjng-man be made a cat's paw no longer.* Now, sir, potatoes are still at such a prohibitive price, in spite of MiMills' s assertion that the prices would only be temporary. It is quite impossible for any working-man to buy potatoes at the present fat man's price. I suppose the working-man's children can starve for the want of potatoes, for all the Government and Mr Mills cares, so long as they capture his vote at election time.—l am, etc., WORKING-MAN No. 2.
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Bibliographic details
Marlborough Express, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 277, 18 November 1905, Page 2
Word Count
254THE GOVERNMENT AND THE WORKING MAN. Marlborough Express, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 277, 18 November 1905, Page 2
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