Readers Write

Northern Advocate, 29 November 1939, Page 4

Readers Write

f ßeaders are invited to send letters for publication in this Column. A letter should he written in ink on one side of the paper, and must bear the name of the writer, not necessarily for publication, but as a guarantee of good faith.]

There repeatedly appear in the “Advocate'’ reports of meetings of the Whangarei branch of the Farm-

ers’ Union. This FARMERS AND branch has very POLITICS. decided views up-

on the political aspects of farming, and its discussions are always given great prominence in the “Advocate."

But, Mr Editor, where were these stalwarts of farmers’ rights and privileges a few short years ago?

If they were so vehement in their opinions when butter was 9d, instead of l/4i, if they were concerned for the farmers when pork was 3d, instead of 7d, if they were worked up to great heights of political bitterness when they saw their own and their friends’ farms being taken over by a private firm known as the Mortgage Corporation, which placed owners on a wages scale which was only sustenance, why did we not hear of them then? Where were our champions then?

Today, when we see rows of farmers’ streamlined cars at every saleyard, when we see the “tote” returns at every race meeting in farming districts going up in leaps and bounds, when we see in the same paper which reports the political remits of the Whangarei branch of the Farmers' Union that eight bullocks from Northland realised £l2O a few days ago, whereas to the knowledge of farmers, and even of town dwellers, the same class of bullocks sold as low as £4 per head, it makes me wonder if these men are not actuated by politics, and politics only? If not. where were these ehor.iet.inc.

If not, where were these champions of farming a few short years ago? I The people of this country know the I facts, and I consider the leaders or | the so-called farmers’ in making farmers the laughing stock of the rest of the community, havo done us a grave disservice. How can we put any real grievance to the people’s Government in the face of this constant mischievous propaganda sent to the papers? The people know ail about low costs. They had them a few short years ago, and they know that low costs always mean a low standard of living. The farmers also know that bread, meat, milk and vegetables grown on the farms have put the cost of living up more than any other items in our requirements. If butter was sold over the counter for lid again, if cabbages were auctioned at 1/ per sack again, If thousands of our people were eating old cows again at 2d per lb, if wool was fetching 3d instead of 12*d, would these guardians of our interests be happy again? That, Mr Editor, was the state of affairs which went hand in hand with the low costs we hear so much about. How can we have faith In the utterances of the leaders of our organisations?—“A FARMER AGAIN.”

During the past few weeks complaints have appeared in. the newspaper from merchants, importers, in

fact, most businessFARMER ON men, regarding imMERCHANTS. port restrictions and inability to pass on

rising costs. Fanners will soon be handing over to those people the bouquet for being the champion growlers of the universe. But why worry so soon? The thing is only an infant yet. The farming community has been in the above position for years. City people are even discussing the probabilty of primary production having an effect on their own living; if they eventually consider this to be true j they should at least thank the Labour Government for bringing the fact to their notice. When a child, I viewed a picture entitled, “In Face iof jthis Common Enemy,” with grave doubts as to its authenticity. The pictux'e portrayed a bush fire, a lion and a lamb. The truth of the drawing was revealed to me 35 years later, when I beheld Messrs Gainor Jackson and Co. attending a farmers’ 'conference in Auckland. Audible sobs from wirewhiskered farmers came from all parts of the room as the “lions” put it f across. “They could not live without us.” “We cannot import anything unless you export something.” “You are the life of the community,” etc. Realising what a good fellow I was, I went out and “shouted” for. myself twice. However, although free beer was missing, they put on a good show. Unfortunately, the only thing which was exported was their idea. I hold no brief for importers, exporters, or any other porters; they will no doubt realise after a couple of years where their living comes from, and it would certainly be detrimental, in the present position to change until the above fact is brought home to the city people, and well rubbed in.

It is the old story; touch a man’s pocket and you make him talk. Let the merchants take their minds back a few years. How many tears did they shed when wool was 3d and butter 7d per lb? None, because the Government of the day looked after them well. My advice to all city people in diffij culties is to take over an abandoned sheep farm—they are obtainable in j any county at a premium—and join j the Wool Kings. What finer occupaj tion could man crave than walking around watching the wool grow at a loss of threepence per lb? If the present Government is looked upon as the “Common Enemy,” it certainly is not the first we have had, or the only one we have got. We are quite aware that the Government are wide-awake to our needs. We know how they apparently stepped in and prevented a big rise in potatoes, which only rose from £3 per ton on trucks to farmers to £26 per ton from merchants at a later date, at which price they appeared to be pegged. A correspondent in your issue asks who is to carry the baby of two million pounds in connection with our butter industry. Well, T should say it will be carried by the same people who are carrying the Public Works baby of two millions and ahalf (the wages subsidy). In conclusion, I believe a shortage of “lambs” for Christmas won’t be harmful for merchants for at least two years, at the end of which time they may be in the same position as many farmers—sitting back, waiting for Mr J. A. Lee’s party.—“WOOL KING.”