Readers Write

Northern Advocate, 26 July 1938, Page 4

Readers Write

I was very pleased to read a “Farmer’s Daughter's” reply to a “Farmer’s Wife,” and I would also like to reply to “A WIVES IN farmer’s wife” regardCOWSHEDS. ing wives in the cowshed. When I was married, fifteen years ago. it was not from choice that I went to milk, and, when my babies arrived, tucked them in boxes in the cowshed. It was from sheer necessity, and until two years ngo was still carried on. I am now pleased to say we can see ahead, and that slavery is all past. In our little district, until two. years ago, eight farmers’ wives went' to the cowshed, today there are two,' and they are these who think things will not be done unless they are there. “ANOTHER , FARMER’S WIFE.” In this time of great political strife and uncertainty we are very apt to lose touch and sight of important events tha'at have a NORTHLAND, direct effect on our BEWARE! future lives and prosperity. Must we fellow the great example of one generation in constructing, and the following generation in destroying? Surely, we can yet, with safety and confidence, build for the future of our country and our children, and the welfare of mankind generally. At a cost of over £200,000, the farmers of Northland have financed and constructed up to date the slaughtering works to deal with all : classes of stock centred at Moerewia.

Now, sir, I know for an undisputable fact, that there are strong outside influences and vested interests endeavouring to compel those works to close down. If they are successful in their endeavour, without & great amount of visit we of the Northland know what the ultimate end will be. Without enlarging further on this important question, I wish to ask the farmers of Northland, 'and all others who are interested, to give this important subject careful consideration from a practical point of view. If we of Northland cannot support up-to-date freezing land slaughtering works,, equipped with modern methods and machinery, and in such a good central position, and endowed with all the wonderful advantages that nature has provided, how in the name of goodness, are we going successfully to construct and support fertiliser works at Whangarei. If the farmers, by grasping at the last shilling which, after all. is only a human weakness jlhat affects us in every walk in life, allows this outside move to succeed, then eventually the whole community of Northland will .suffer financial less, and it will prove a backward step in the progressive future of our wonderful territory.— “ONLY A WOUNDED DIGGER.”

I read with interest the explanation of “Poverty and plenty,” by “Agricola.” Surely your correspondent is a little harsh in '‘POVERTY AND judgment of those PLENTY.” poor parents who cannot afford proper food, clothing and health service for their children. Is it reasonable that for the above reasons, parents should forgo thefr beer, their little flutter, or their leisure —much better word than “loafing”? Is it not rather that the Government is not giving these unfortunates enough to live on in comfort? Should not the remedy be “onward and upward,” via the short route of again increasing wages, sustenance, pensions, etc? It must be remembered that the Prime Minister has stated that his “mission is among the poor” and that “we won’t let you down.” It must be remembered, also, that as all the prominent Labour leaders have told us these poor people “are the very salt of the earth.” The farmer is joyously working overtime for love of it, so that in time to come his sweat may help to superannuate this “salt of the earth” population, and keep it in comfort and leisure into a ripe old age, with plenty for beer and a little flutter. I really think, Sir, that “personal sacrifice” is a very unpleasant term, and I am sure that the “salt of the earth” will agree with me that such a fashion is quite out of keeping with the progressive times in v/hich we have the joy of j Iiving.—“MEMORABILIA.”