FARMERS' UNION AND TRADES AND LABOUR COUNCIL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 11955, 2 May 1902, Page 7

FARMERS' UNION AND TRADES AND LABOUR COUNCIL.

10 THE KDITOIi. Sir, — In your issue of yesterday Mr. 'i\. i Heathcoto Jackman expresses the opinion that " the colony is particularly lucky in having men at the head of the Government who have hitherto refused to carry cut most of the extravagant demands ol the party who really put them in power." Does Mr. Jackman mean what he writes and is he trying to throw dust in the eye.; of the farmers and settlers who are now uniting for the purpose- of protecting their interests, political and otherwise '! Does he remember the platform of the so-called Labour party, say, 10 years ago—co-operative work*, old age pensions, an Arbitration and Conciliation Act, nationalisation of land and mines, the freehold qualification to he abolished, and other levelling-dovru proposals ': What is the position now '.' Our public works are carried on under the cooperative system, which, though it costs the taxpayers at least 50 per cent, more than ought to be the case, is exceedingly useful to the powers that be as an electioneering machine. We frame an Old Age Pensions Act, which does not discriminate between the deserving and undeserving, which is a direct encouragement to tinthrift, and which places upon the shoulders of the industrious portion of the population the task of providing for many who have neglected their opportunities and who have been too lazy or too improvident to make provision for themselves. Wo have an Arbitration and Conciliation Act, which is being used to increase the earnings of the workers in towns and consequently reduces the earnings of the workers in the country We have made a commencement with the nationalisation of mines by the Act of last session, which provides for the purchase of mines by the State and State ownership. We have practically done away with the freehold electoral qualification, and contrary to the spirit of the Land Act we withhold the option of purchase from the settlers going on to Crown Janus. These tilings have all been brought about by the Government, of which Mr. Jackman is an admirer, and on whose behalf he was a candidate some years ago, and he would still have us believe that Mr. Scddon has resisted the extravagant demands of his followers. But when was tho resistance in connection with the Kuvvhia lands? The Premier positively gloried in his action, though it was contrary both to the letter and spirit of the Land Act. But we are not to be misled any longer. The farmers and country settlers aee plainly that if they do not assort themselves and support the Farmers' Union, in a few years from now we shall find the latest demands of the Trades and Labour Conference acceded to and this country, with all its advantages, will be a very good country for industrious people to get away from.— am, etc., A Meudkk of tuk Farm Union.