Readers Write

Northern Advocate, 16 April 1940, Page 4

Readers Write

I think the comments passed by the Director of Primary Production (Mr Tennent), in an interview with your paper, should not

FARMERS AND SACRIFICES.

be allowed to pass without comment.

Mr Tennent states, that the farming community will have* to be prepared to make sacrifices equal' to those made by our soldiers. ,In my opinion he would be nearer the mark if he applied his remarks to the Federation of Labour, which is now asking for a general increase in wages 1 “under war conditions.” If the farmers ask for an increase in prices it is called sedition. Of course, Mr Nash may yet come to the fore, and reduce wages as he did the butter price after the commission’s finding. I do not think there is any body of men more patriotic than the farmers. Mr Tennent’s own enlistment figures prove this. The statement that labour on farms is not very short is perhaps accounted for by the fact that women and children in increasing numbers are going into cowsheds, very often for no remuneration of any kind. Taking the 3000 enlistment figures from the farming industry, does Mr Tennent consider they were a useless body of men on farms when it is said labour is not short, even taking into account the enlistments. The present Government has brought in much good legislation affecting primary production, but it is in some cases four years too late. Subsidised contracts is an excellent idea, but nearly all small farmers cannot afford to pay anything towards the cost of improvements. The same applies to county rates. The wealthy farmer pays £100; the poor unfortunate who cannot pay has £lO added to his burden.

If Mr Tennent, the Government, or anybody else can persuade Public Works employees to leave their posi-. tions and work on a dairy farm seven days per week for less money than they are already getting, then I will say that the age of miracles is not past. The basic industry upon t which we all depend is forced to pay a starvation wage to enable the rest of the community to live, often, in luxury. What a position to have in any country! Mr Nash himself stated that the industry could not pay a higher wage. The farmer is chained to a price which was quite good a year or so back, but costs are still rising in spite of the Government, as witness the increase in woollen cloth from 7/6 per yard to 12/-, brought about, we are led to believe, through crossbred wool being in demand for war purposes. One pound of wool will make a yard of cloth. The rise in price to the farmer is sixpence. Who gets the 4/6? In conclusion, sir, I would say that neither Mr Tennent no-r any other man is in a position to make such a wide statement as was made to your paper, casting as it does a reflection upon the whole farming community, and aggravating the town versus country feeling, which is already bad enough.—NORTHLANDER.