BRITISH FARMING CONDITIONS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21555, 28 July 1933, Page 13

BRITISH FARMING CONDITIONS

Sir,—All must agree with Mr. Bloodworth that it is most desirable that the condition of all workers should be improved, and, the more poorly paid the worker, the moro desirable is an increase in real wages. But where are we to step? What is the limit of increase? Undoubtedly tho capacity of the industry to pay tho wages out of legitimate profits. If wages are paid out of any other fund, bankruptcy must result, and the worker, instead of having low wages, will have more. That is what has happened. Under trade unionism agricultural wages in England wore doubled and the hours reduced. Advances of over 100 per cent are magnificent, but they are not business. Information gathered when I was in England some four years ago and confirmed by recent letters from farmer friends, shows that tho payment of these increased wages is impossible. So a democratic and vote-buying Government says, "Let us raise also the prices ot wheat and wool and other produce in order that tho increased wages may be paid." Consequently the worker must pay more for his food and his clothes, and his last state is'worse than his first, because, at the increased prices, bis goods are rendered unsaleable in the world's markets. E. Eaiu.k Vaile.