LETTERS TO THE EDITOR.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 16285, 19 January 1915, Page 2

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR.

THE FARMERS' CORPS. Sir, —I noticed in the Daily Times on Saturday morning that tho farmers of the North Island have formed a very powerful mounted rifles corps, the membership of which is expected to exceed 1000 in x\uckland povince alone. The objects of the corps are described as: —"The preservation of our righte. tho maintenance of law and order, and the defence of our country.'' From this I presume that they aro arming themselves in preparation for any strike or industrial trouble such as happened a little more than a year ago. Now, Sir, I should like to know if tho creation of a force of this kind ie in accordance with the law. If it is not, why have the Government aJid the press said nothing against it? One can imagine what the same Government and press would say if all the industrial unions formed and armed a regiment "for the preservation of their rights." It is also interesting to note that the farmers put "the preservation of their rights'' firet, and "the defenco of their country" last. Evidently their money and personal property come before everything else, oven before their country.—l ain, etc., January 16. Worker.