FARMERS' WOOL PROFITS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18047, 22 September 1920, Page 6

FARMERS' WOOL PROFITS.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir,—l notice that at the meeting: of the Executive of the RS.A. the chairman, Dr .Harrison, m«ies some rather rash statements on the above subject. Be says — . . . . three millions were awarded to those who stayed at home." What does ho mean by this? The well-earned bonus'paid to the farmers on their wool amounted to not three millions, but £1,600,000. I also do not understand what the phrase "stayed at home" refers to. T]» farming community responded as well as any as far as the war ™ concerned. Dγ Harrison goes on to say: •• . . t double «S for therr wool. . . ." The price paid under Ihe Imperial Government contract was not "double prices,"- but was actually ucder the market value of the -wool in the open market, -as statistics will prove. There appears to bo always a clasV of people who, ignorant of the actual facts, are at all times ready to oondemn the producers as profiteers. In reality, I think they (the producers) must be the only class that actually earns th© money it makes. Wiat would happen to th o country if the farmers went slow" or insisted on an eighthour day? The soldiers would have teen Jucfcy to get a one million gratuity in the above circumstances.—l ain, etc., S. T.

INTERPROVINCIAL FOOTBAI/L. TO THE EDITOK Sir,—The fact that the Ranfuri- Shield has been won by Southland, a province which waa; least expected to wronch it away from Wellington, goes to show how a team which is properly coached and trained can sprint? a surprise on a team which looked in vincible. The Southland solecfccre showed good judgment in many waye. Frrat of all. they did not select tlieir team from Inver cargill alone, but went into the- country clubs and piclccd a teem which you can call 'a Southland team." Then, again, tliev saw that their men were trained and coached in the proper way, and attended to those who required individual coaching, and I believe one or two men played their gamo against Wellington from tho fence because they did not turn up for their trainin°- I eay "good luck to Southland," as no doubt the fact of the ahield being held by a South Island province will do a power of good to football* in tho south. Now, comparing O(ago with Southland, I cannot say Otago derived to wui the shield. The selectors simply picked the team from games they saw played on the two main grounds. You can only caJl it a Duuedin team, and one, which I am certain could be improved on There are players outside of Dunedin who' with a little, coaching, would strengthen our team. Then, again, our men who wero selected might have done much better had they been carefully coached and trained, and tho=o who did not turn up to practice put on the fence, especially when such an important iseiio was at stake. I am led to believe that the form of training given to our team was an absolute farce, such as kicking for goals, dribbling, and passing other than from set scrums; then our enthusiastic public wonders why our boya were beaten, why they Rot no ball from the scrums, etc. I hear the Otago Rugby Union wanted I to have the match against Southland a shield game. I advise Southland to have all shield matches in Inveroargill, ae they require tho goto money as much as anr «rovinco.—l am, etc.. A Football Enthusiast.