TRIAL BY JURY,

Star (Christchurch), Issue 19849, 19 January 1920, Page 5

TRIAL BY JURY,

WHEAT DEAL CONDEMNED AM INFORMAL DISCUSSION "I see they're fixed up the price of wheat, 1, said a. farmer whose chin was disappearing this morning in a snowy lather under a city barber’s manipulation of tho shaving brush. Yos.” said his friend, who was waiting his turn, seven and threepence.” ’•ft ought to he ten hob,’’ suggested the barber, stropping the razor rather viciously. .He had the lineaments of a democrat, and there was a. touch of line sarcasm in his tone.

" y nothing about next season. ’ said the first tanner.

‘ No.” said Hie. other. “ We’ll get that in another fortnight.” 11 they a mistake in keeping the Press out,' said the. occupant of the chair.

“Acs.” said Ihe oilier. “ 1 was not surprised at Davy Jones fixing that up. hut l .ini surprised that Massey fell for it. Flint sort of thing only causes trouble- Tho people ought to know what is going on, and the farmers wanted a full discussion. What’s more, did you notice the conference of I‘armors Unions carried a resolution to educate the workers tip to tho fact that the farmer is not exploiting them, hut that it’s he middlemen, then Davy Jones fixes it up in committee, and he’s president of the Farmers’ Union.”

“ But the Fanners’ Union represent; very lew farmers,” objected the recumbent figure. “Yes,” said No, 2. "but of course they are the official head.” “ But if Massey wanted a conference with the coalminers ho wouldn't apply to Holland, would he,” persisted No. 1. “M by don’t they compel them to grow wheat, ’ suggested Toil, whose snickersnee gave him a certain dominance of the situation-

“ I hey can’t compel you to grow wheat,” said the canitalist.

'■ Oh.” said the. barber, “I thought they could compel you to do anything.” “Oil no.” said the other loftily. *’ But they can compel you to go to the war,” said the barber. The argument was a, hard one to meet, hut the Backbone of the Country crossed bis legs, and pur. up a, verbal smoke-screen. It was a, more confidem tin 1 and less confident exposition of the relation.ship of Capital and Labour, am! referred to open markets, and the loyalty of the, farmer class to their country during the war in spite of heavy financial risks.

” But it used to pay to grow wheat.” said' Lie barber, "and T thought the Now Zealand climate was very suitable for cereals.”

” Yes,” said the farmer, “ hut you can't make tho farmer grow wheat to feed bank shareholders and shipping eonipanv shareholders, who get a*dividend of 15 per cent on the average. There might ho a profit, and there might he a. loss, hut you can’t force .1 man to do something that might make him bankrupt.” The class door swung on the. writer. The debate was unfinished at the time of “going to press.”