Public Opinion

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 89, Issue 268, 13 November 1945, Page 4

Public Opinion

THE COUNTRY QUOTA

Sir, —I have read very carefully “Freedom’s” letter which purported to answer mine, the whole purport of which was io ask should we maintain or abolish the country quota? I may be called upon to vote on the question and I would prefer to cto so intelligently. But I can find in “Freedom’s” letter no answer whatever to this question. Instead, I am afraid that he read into mine a reflection upon the importance of the farmer. But I can assure him that, as compared with any other individual producer in these days of subdivision of labour, no such reflection was intended; while, as compared with the score of other producer’s labour, the farmer’s contribution could not be measured. As to my taking a job on a farni (allhough it is beside the point) I may tell “Freedom” that I spent a lew years on a fair size sheep run, very occasionally in a ‘howling southerly.’ - It was the freest and healthiest lime of my life. I also took a job milking up to 20 cows by hand. I intended to go farming but the competition for the job of farmer was so keen that I gave up the contest. I noticed in your columns this week that a court valued land near Wanganui at £7O per acre without buildings. Now, under our law, ont can not buy the full ownersnip of lanu, one can only buy the job of farming it, which means that the farmers job is so attractive that he is prepared to tie a large mortgage ro'»nd his neck, and often round that o f his wife and family, in order to got the job. And the more townies invent machinery or processes to help him, the more fle paxs. 1 joined the Farmers’ Union, but, being a young man, I did not take a prominent part. I, however, suggested Io individual farmers that to Increase the wages of farmers we should unite to keen down the price of land. None of them wanted that. I (Tien felt that I was driven into town to work and I still wonder why farmers : hould have a greater voice in the government of the country than others. —I am, etc., YOUNG MAC