COST OF PRODUCTION.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXIII, 28 April 1927, Page 13

COST OF PRODUCTION.

To the Editor of the “Timaru Herald.” Sir, —In your issue of April 19, under ihe above heading, appears a letter signed “M. J. Corrigan.” J.n this epistle, written, no doubt, with a heart almost bleeding for h'is poor fellow associates, ho claims, as tfio most discussed questions in’New Zealand today, several, mutters relating to the fanning community. This, for a start, is open to question, though it is probably so as far as the people immediately interested are concerned. Ho fails to see, as ho invariably does, with J.is fellow farmer in roferenco to the solving of the wheat question. This gentleman (I hope I do not exaggerate) is extremely fluttering to himse’f, when he says: “There is no doubt, Mr Editor, you will ask me to supply some moans of producing more cheaply.” Jf you did, sir, you would l earn a distinction no farmer would envy. He, however, without your asking, is so full of the remedy,

ill fact, with a- head lull of knowledge in that respect, and having such a, pliikiiujiropic turn of mind, decides to present the .Dominion with a remedy, in spite of the fact that it lias puzzled our statesmen for pears. He quotes tanning as a liealtny occupation, and it. .should be, but it is not too healthy when it is run in conjunction .with extreme worry. Can Air Corrigan 'not recall cases where land has been sold so dear, and the vendor and mortgagee have been so hard that the purchaser has landed in a mental hospital. That would be something most people would like to forget. He talks of the waste of time, then, in the next .sentence, invites your readers to go about town, at three o’clock m the afternoon, where evidently he himself is to bo found, looking at people minding thenown business. He lias also discovered that two firms could do all the business and financing that at present takes’ five to do, Out docs not tell you how ir, is to be dons. Ho also says the fiirmcr is financially worried from being over attended to. 1 have, never heard one say so. If, as he points out, the farmers of this country go under because eleven stock agents and livo auctioneers attended a sale recently, J. am afraid our Prime Minister would not credit them with much pluck'. How does lie know but that ail these were required to watch the interests of a client who was heavily embarra.sed financially, through having purchased a property from some “land shark” with a plausible tongue, and no conscience between himself and hades, and had been compelled Lo ask Ins old firm to come to the rescue. “Let us work, instead of talk,” ho says. Does be ask us to do as iio does, or do as he, says? How many fanners agree with him, that 75 per cent, of the tanners will be bankrupt before five years. Any man with common knowledge of the economic conditions cf the world would be optimistic enough to say that 75 per cent, of them will improve their position. What a, Job’s comforter to the fanner, of whom he protends to be such a benefactor. Would i not like to take him for a trip over tho same ground as he traversed selling shares :or Fanners’ Freezing Company, and hear the .sentiments as they are expressed by the purchasers regarding himself. Perhaps Mr Corrigan lias to-day a glorious opportunity ol keeping a man on Ids farm to- produce. If he has, we watch with interest, and wi'l be pleased to note tho fact, wimu ho has done so. But surely, Mr Corrigan will admit that the land speculator did an immense amount of barm to this country, especially if he were of the unscrupulous class. I know Mr Corrigan would not associate with this class, but he should, remember there are thousands of people glowing with pride that they do not poke their noses into other people's business. Jn conclusion, Mr Corrigan should remember there is no royal road to prosperity —not even by making stock agents work on farms where they might not he worth their “tucker.” li t "must be by hard work and industry on the part of each and every one, no matter what their occupation might be. ’! lien will Mr Corrigan be on his farm producing, and the Dominion will fulfil its mission of spreading peace, justice and knowledge throughout its territorv. —I am, etc., CONSUMER.