LETTERS TO THE EDITOR.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 16980, 17 April 1917, Page 6

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR.

THE TRISH QUESTION. Sm,--I am not concerned with "United Ireland." My time is fully occupied in trying to keep Father Liston to true history.—l am, etc., Mosgiel. April 16. THE WAR AND ESSENTIAL INDUSTRIES. Sir, —The Minister of Defence complains that men who aro called up. in the ballot aro shutting clown their farms. Ho asks them to appeal, so also does the Minister of Agriculture, But what use is it for them to appeal when they are treated with slight consideration by the members of the Military Service Board; some getting a few weeks to put in wheat, and others being passed on to the Efficiency Boaa;d. If the Efficiency Board has to take evidence to ascertain if racing and picture shows are essential industries, then I say little good will come from it. Tho Minister of Defence says we must .keep up our reinforcements, and at the same time increase our production. When so many of our working farmers ' and ploughmen have gone, and are going, to the front, this cannot be done. Mr MacDonald is appealing to farmers to put in wheat, and almost compelling them to do so. He may get a few more, acres of wheat, but less turnips and rape will bo grown, so that less meat will be sent to the Imperial Government. The Minister of Railways is curtailing the railway service, and questioning- if it is fair to ask tho men who are left, to carry on shorthanded such an enormous business. Yet we are asked to increase our business and produce more, although a great number of our best men have gone. Retired farmers and women will never fill the places of these men. There is a great deal of talk about the supervision for farms. It. is not supervision that is wanted, but work, and not for a few .weeks only, but from now on until New. Tear, after which comes harvest.

Tho Minister of Defence tolls us he saw a ploughman with the reins of his team in one hand and a baby in the other. I do not expect that man to increase production very -much. If a man has a six-horso team, he has quite enough to look after, without a baby. If Sir James Allen is going to give ploughmen babies to carry he should take a hint from the Maori mother, and strap them on their, backs, and still they will be handicapped. Surely, Sir, it is time Sir James faced the situation properly. Tho soldiers and people must be fed. Mr Bonar, Law says men aro wanted more for agriculture than in. tho trenches. Our chief industry hero is that of agriculture, but so many men are away that this industry must suffer greatlv. The time has come when men must be loft, or a great many more farms will have to bo shut down, it cannot bo otherwise—in fact, it is too lato now. as too many of our best men are away, and a great many teams have been turned out. —I am, etc,. - ' Fabmer.

Twenty, thousand tons of potatoes are needed by the army every month. The authorities of a London hank have told their girl clerks that V-shaped blouses and ohort skills must bo covered by overalls reaching to within two inches of the ground. Some interesting remarks on the relationship existing between the Government and friendly societies were made by Bro. Thompson, P.G.P., in responding to the toast of Druids' Grand Lodgo at the installation of the district president at Onehunga on Wednesday (says the New Zealand Herald). Referring to the deputation to the Hdns. J. .A. Hanan and A. M. Myers at Wellington with regard to the operation of the National Provident Fund, he said he was satisfied the Government had given them all it was possible to do owing to the great financial strain on the country. Friendly societies had secured recognition by the Government, which they had been fighting for for the last 20 or 30 years. As the majority of the members of friendly societies were working men, it was impossible for them to join the National Provident Fund as well as a friendly society. After the war they should continue to fight for terms that would bring the fund within the reach of members. The protection afforded to friendly societies' funds by the appointing of nn actuary deserved the best thanks of societies to the Government, especially as the service was carried free of cost. • i