THE FLOUR COMBINE.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XXXVI, Issue 10588, 10 March 1902, Page 2

THE FLOUR COMBINE.

TO xuji XDXTOB.

Sir, — Will you allow me » little space to reply to "Verax." I am credited with not noting several points in this discussion. Ido not know why he should attack me, as there was nothing of a controversial nature in my letter; it was merely an intimation re supply of non-trust flour. I suppose, knowing me to be a co-operator, as also a socialist and communist to boot, he would naturally put me down as "agin" the Trust. He tries, in his letter, to make it out a Trade Union, but don't let anybody be fooled by this statement. It's a trust, as the people will soon find out to their cost. I can hardly be said* to be "agin" them, as, being a sensible man and taking into consideration fully, the apathetic condition of the people, I can see nothing to stop them until they have had their turn. They will be weighed in the balance; and the verdict will be the same as that pronounced on Belshazzar*s kingdom. The Trust system is the quintessence of monopoly. It is the hist squeeze, the last wring, the last kick the worker receives, and if he doesn't awaken them, there is no hope for him or anybody else. Galloping degeneracy will have set in. But I beheve that he will awaken. He is turning over ve — ry slowly over on to his other side. But when both his eyes are wide open, with one bound he'll be up and doing and, with the centralisation which is taking place under the Trust system, it will be comparatively easy for him to take over the various industries. It will be a question of the large mass of the people rising against a few . and simply brushing them to the one side. Let it come quickly. And let me here point out to "Verax" that I am not one of those who believe that those millers who stood outside of the combination for a time were afflicted with magnanimity Oh no. They very likely stood out to obtain better terms; they thought, perhaps, that it might sot be a good thing for them, from a speculation point of view. They were, in fact, a bit short-sighted to their own -interests, but I suppose that the heai bummers in the Trust would not take long to show them that it would be a good tiling for them, so they were ultimately persuaded, and I believe that some of the large companies, who are not in, would be, were it not that their articles of association forbid them. I am very much amused at the statement - by "Versx," vk. • That it will be difficult. for the local millers; as also the 'smaller millers, to make and sell the flour at the moderate P*?" 1 toed by the Association. Poor millers! I met one gentleman in town the other day, who told me that the millers had not made any profit for the Efi* if 5 ,/?-! 18 - Poor millers again ! Well, ill tell him, or any other gentleman, that if he cares to invest his money in the Co-operative Society at Eastown, tnat he won't have long to wait on 6 per cent. It's a most peculiar thing, but Ive met, in this town, men in a good way of business, who have a fine house and garden, orchard, tennis court, etc. • moreover, whose children are well clothed, well fed, have more than an ordinary education, some of them in good positions (everything in their homes smiling and contented) and yet these men bemoaned their sad fate and dwslawd to me that their workmen were better off. And to me, who am only a plain-tiiinking fellow, the question arises: Why on earth don't \hev exchange positions? I'm sure that it is Suite easy to drop down into the ranks r they wish it, "sell all that thou hast" etc-" f ufc . Mr Editor, it's a "big lie," that statement on the part of the employers. I might state here that I am willing to meet "Verax," or any other 8f n ?S m^!L ln pubUc deb » to and prove that Trtut. are inimical to the racial welfare.— l am. otc. 8

_ _ JOHN GILCHRIST. tile. Well, there are two or three meanings to that word. Will he be a little more precise.