THE PROGRESSIVE AND MODERATE LABOUR PARTY.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18324, 15 August 1921, Page 8

THE PROGRESSIVE AND MODERATE LABOUR PARTY.

iU lit*. UWiUlt. Sih,—lt is a pity that the aspiring young politician ot Lmnectin does not ponaer over the lines of Bums. "'Oh, wad some power the. giitie gie us, etc." I am certain that if ho did he would at once abandon the role ho is trying to till and wnich has proved to be far beyond his present capacity. 1 would like to ask the. two members of Parliament who comprise the new party how it is that ,they have ignored the aiectors who gave them political life. Political honesty should have indicated to them that their first duty was to place their views before Dunedin electors. Certainly, Messrs Statham and Kellett are not possessed of that mental calibre indispensiblo in political leaders. —I am, etc., <A Liberal. CHAFF BAGS. •lO TUB KDITOB. Sib, —I see that the old adage ia true, even respecting the sale of chaff bags—namely, that '"there are two sides to every question." We have heard Mr Thomas Smith's side, and now I shall try and put "before your readers the stock and station agent's side. Surely Mr Smith knows that tno agents sell both chaff and the bags in which the chaff is contained, on account of the grower. They do not sell the chaff on account of the grower and the bags on their own account. The account sales of both chaff and bags aro rendered in about seven days after the sale. Cheques are sent with the account sales for the balance, the price allowed for the bags being the value of them on the day of sale, and exactly the same as the buyer is charged for them. Under these circumstances I think Mr Smith will admit that there is no chance of the agente getting any allowance on these bags. Besides in a tailing market many of the growers must have lost considerably on the price they paid for the bags. Now, let us see what the result of Mr Smith's proposal would be so far as the agents are concerned. He bought 30 bags of chaff and was charged Is each for the bags—3os on the lot. The agents get Is 6d commission on this sum of 30s. Mr Smith keeps the bags until he has used up the chaff, and until this is done he does not want to return the bags. Then he finds tho price c{ bags is only 9d instead of Is, but he thinks tho agents should allow him the full price he paid, less Id for the use of tliem, the result being that he loses 2s 6d. which is charged for the use of the bags, and the agent loses Ss because the market has come down. Most magnanimous ! I Mink someone must have been "drawing Mr Smith's leg" when he was told he could buy now bags for 6d or r>irl. At tho present time millers are being charged Is 7d each for all new bags got with wheat. The price was arranged by the Government, and the millers are making no complaint. New bags, 44's, are quoted for shipment in December from Calcutta at 9s 6id per dozer/, and this will cost 12s delivered in the store.—l am, etc., One Who Knows.