THE OAT QUESTION.

Southland Times, Issue 17468, 24 March 1915, Page 2

THE OAT QUESTION.

To the Kdltor. Sit.—With your permission, it appears necessary to make some comment, on account of the urgent meeting convened by the President, .Mr Ford. in the early part of the week, and also the great discussion that took place on Saturday on the alleged shortage of 3,000,00(1 bushels of oats. There is certainly a great shortage of oats at the present lime as they are not to be had at any price. Mr Ford said that many farmers had sown late in the spring, and these crops were going to turn out well, Now, I say Mr Ford is wrong, because many farmers sowed in summer, and some of these crops won't be stacked a month hence and will never be fit to thresh. Mr Ford as a farmer must be well aware that oats sown in November will not thresh L'o bushels per acre. Now, Mr Fditor, I would like to know if this Mr AlcQueen is a. farmer, or if he is only a fool for the Opposition, as he some time ago at a meeting of the enterprising League of Southland made an attempt to throw chid water on the Massey Government, and made three oilier altempls at the meeting on Saturday. Mr Fleming and Mr Trotter have taken a broad view of the matter, but as Mr McQueen's resolution was carried. I will now be brief. I remind my farmer friends of about eighteen months ago when Mr Massey look the bull by the horns and sent Home (heir mutton, wool, cheese, butter and eggs. He also secured the Hour for us, and also for Councillors ulJyrne and Lonnie. He now wants lo give us a little oatmeal, but my farmer friends don’t want it. It might bo better to import it from Canada. After we get the wheat and oats, from Canada wo may want another three million loan. The question now crops up where can we get this. Wo are importing wheat and oats and New Zealand is not half populated. In conclusion 1 must ask my farmer friends to take a bro-H view of this matter, the same ns Mr -Massey has done.—l am. etc., A M FMI IMP. Wrights Bush, March 311. 1915.