FARMERS AND THE STRIKE. TO THE EDITOR.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 8919, 25 September 1890, Page 3

FARMERS AND THE STRIKE. TO THE EDITOR.

Si B) —I feel considerably crushed and humiliated after being jumped upon, as I have been, by Mr H. K. WilWnsob, as evidenced in his letter in your issue of 22nd inst. Surely I must unconsciously have touched him " upon the raw" to account for the vicious manner in whioh he has fiovra at my throat. My mental capacity shrinks from the brightness of intellect flashed upon your readers by your correspondent; but still I would like to venture a word or two in reply. Mr Wilkinson takes exception to my statement that as far as New Zealand is concerned she was drawn into the quarrel through the use of nonunion labour, and is very severe that I have not weighed the evidence on both sides. I would therefore draw his attention to the fact that the great apostle of unionism in this part of New Zealand—Mr J. A. Millar—who may perhaps be admitted by Mr W. to be an. authority on the union side of the question, 6peaking at Oamaru, as reported in Saturday's issue, says: " The whole dispute hinged on the employment of non-union men" Has Mr Millar also not weighed the evidence on both sides, or is he wanting in " capacity " to ths same extent that I am?

Doubtless Mr Wilkinson—apparently a resident of Mornington, a suburb of Dunedin—is the beßt judge of the views of country residents; but I believe even those " thousands who understand and appreciate the work that has been done by unionism" will probably agree that it is the abuse of it, as exemplified in the present aotion of the executive, that seems to be so senseless.

To see men meekly coming out in crowds, abandoning steady employment and good wages, for which in the main their wives and children will suffer, and giving plane to others who wisely are very willing to take advantage of the chance, appears to one not immediately concerned little shore of madness.

As to my " greatest errors," I do not see how the reference to " customs duties," only an incident in the cost price of imported articles, affects my statement that the tendency of increased pay for labour would be towards raising the price to the ultimate consumer—in the cases I referred to the farmer. If the article is produced by higher paid labour, wherever that may be, in the colony or out of it, the same argument applies. It is news to farmers to know that two of the articles I referred to— implements (inferentially farming, I said nothing about "expensive machinery") and bagging— are to the largest extent consumed in the towns. The farmer for his share usually gets them from thence, and they are worn out in his survice entailing a return to town for a fresh supply. Aa to eggs, honey, &c, (dairy produce, which to a great extent seeks an outside market in the same way as " grain, wool, and mutton," and may be placed in tho same category with them), I would concede some slight benefit from larger "purchasing power"; but the prise obtained for. them is more regulated by the population of the different centres, shown by the last few weeks' experience to be largely composed of those outside the unions.—l am, &c.

September 23.

George F. B. Poynter,