THE WOOL COMMANDEER.

Wanganui Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 16046, 10 February 1920, Page 5

THE WOOL COMMANDEER.

(To the Editor.) j Sir, —I have just read the report of [Mr Harold Beauchamp's views on the present crisis. I am surprised to find him saying that the commandeer has placed New Zealand in a better financial position than any other country of the Empire. Will he tell us in that case how it is South Africa is leas tax-bur-dened than any other country, and how Canada is so flourishing? Both of these countries refused the English commandeer. Also, will he tells us how it is that the English farmer made fortunes, and how it has been openly acknowledged. that the bank credits in England doubled during the war, and how, even a few days ago, we found the Chancellor of the Exchequer announcing that amounts in English P.O. Savings Bank* had increased from £‘, 500,000,000 t* despite the fact thafc £200,0 00,000 lead been invested in Wap Savings Certificates? Compare this with New Zealand! How many of our people have doubled their credits, or even cleared off their overdrafts? No amount of juggling with the question can ever make the British commandeer anything but un-British and unfair : and the fact still remains that Australasia was the only part of the Empire which had its loyalty exploited in s. d, Mr Beauchamp says such a term as “exploitation” cannot apply to wool, which was purchased by tbe Imperial. Government on the basis of a 55 per cent, increase on the average price realised for our wool on the London market for the year before. And I say: If this 55 per cent, basis had been applied to England and the rest of the Empire, it might have been quite fair, but that we alone (Australasia) should be forced to accept it was and is iniquitous. I would also like to point out to Mr Beauchamp that although we were allowed (!) a 55 per cent increase on 1914 prices for our wool wc have had to pay 100 per cent, increase on wages and all farm requirements, so this 55 per cent. increase ■works out at nil. In any case, this question, since armistice, has resolved itself into a commercial, not a patriotic, one, and I hope that our farmers will really wake up to the facts of the case, and fight hard for open markets and their own profits.— L am, etc,, ONE WHOSE EYES HAVE BERN OPENED.