RAILWAY CONCESSIONS TO FARMERS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21215, 22 December 1930, Page 12

RAILWAY CONCESSIONS TO FARMERS.

TO THE EDITOR. SiKj—ln a report of a meeting of the Hillside branch of'the A.SJI.S. published in your issue of the 16th inst. the following appears:— That this meeting of railway servants emphatically protests against the action o£ the Government In again granting to the farmers free railage on lime and unpayable rates for fertilisers and other farm produce. We are of* the opinion that this pampered class has been spoon-fed long enough at the expense of the general taxpayer, and all concessions should be withdrawn until a higher standard of living la received by wage earners.. Are the members of the railway service in a position to throw bricks at the farmers for getting those concessions? Will the members of the Hillside branch of the A.S.R.S. please publish in your paper the number of concession tickets issued to railway employees during the last 12 months?' Will they also state the difference between the p'rice' charged for these tickets and the ordinary fares? Will they also state the amount of money it has been necessary to extract from the taxpayers of this country during the last 20 years to bolster up the railway superannuation scheme? When the public has those facta it will he in a position to assess the value of the protest against free railage on, lime to farmers. But why pick on the farmer, who, by the way, is going to need all the concessions he can get the next year or two?. What about our secondary. industries, most of which are working under the shelter of high protective tariffs, while the farmer has to sell his meat,- wool, butter, and cheese In the open markets of the world? — I am, etc., D. Grant, President Milton branch Farmers’ Union. December 17.