FARMERS AND GOVERNMENT

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24627, 7 June 1941, Page 11

FARMERS AND GOVERNMENT

TO THE EDITOB Sir,—This is the season of the year when the Farmers' Union and its related organisations indulge in their annual bursts of publicity. This year it is most notable that their logic is dictated by the interests of their purse Two promises of the many the Government has made stand out. ine first relates to the 40-hour week, which is the law of the land and is promised to be left intact wherever possible by the Government. But the Farmers Union "heads" say it should go The other promise is not the law of the land, but some vague isolated statements by loquacious Ministers about taking all meat at schedule rates that the farmers produ<" even when there is no outlet for it. Although this promise means a loss to the taxpayers estimated from £5,000,000 to £11.000.000. there is a unanimous chorus from all the voices that the promise should be kept. There arc no more con-

sistent advocates than the members of the Farmers' Union ofithe well-known policy of socialising their losses and individualising of their gains. And they have succeeded in it, too, for out of the cargo of Socialism which the Labour Government has delivered .so far the farmers have unloaded 75 per cent, of it. —I am, etc., Mosgiel, June 5. Full Mouth.

TO THE EDITOB Sir,— l see that at the Farmers' Union meeting Mr. Mulholland launched another of his attacks against the 40-hour week, arguing that if hours of work were increased men could be released for other work. I daresay he had in mind farm labouring. We haven't heard so much about the shortage of farm labour lately I suppose the sons are back oh the farms for the duration of the war. Representatives of the Farmers' Union also speak cut on appeals. May. I suggest that they first put their own house in order. Now that the farmer is faced with over-pro-duction there should be no need for the large number of appeals lodged by and on behalf of the man on the land.—l am, etc., Henley, June 4. Fair Play.