FROM A FARMER'S WIFE.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1898, 5 November 1913, Page 7

FROM A FARMER'S WIFE.

Sir, —Wo women Jiving in llm country, would like to have a few words with tho leaders of tlio strike. Wo read their speeches, suggesting setting firo to our houses and dubbing our men if they dare to, bring.their, owiirprodiico to tho ships'' side. What liavo tho farmers done to be so treated? 1 know what the women o.f tho back-blocks have done. They have slaved for their families year m, year out, in cold and wet, and mud, in heat and iiro, under conditions which no townsman could realise; far from help in sickness or from, amusement in health; from doctors, hospitals, churches, shops, theatres, trams, or neighbours. They have endured countless privations in tho hopo of making an independence) for their flld age and giving their children a better start in life. Yet, as soon as they have scraped together a few pounds' worth ot produce, tlie strikers say their butter and meat must rot on tho wharf; their husbands knocked oil tho head if they dare to touch it, and tlio women terrorised by threats.

Just think what this means to tho small dairy farmer. It- is simply ruin. And those few cases of butter or fruit have been wrung from tile soil at what a cost to the women. I .know of one who daily takes her axo and rocs cut to the dangerous work of busli-felliiig with her husband, so that in' case of an accident lis would not be alone. Several neighbours have lost children by firo or. other accidents far from medical aid. Others have borne children without even a woman near to assist and' nurse. Those are tho people who the "lied Feds" wish to terrorise and ruin I •

If some of these cowards who stand up in the safety -of town streets' and suggest burning our houses and clubbing our husbands and ruining our homos .would como into tho busji and do one woman's works—l do not suggest they should try to do a man's—l think they would be wiser, if not better, at the end of six months. —I am, etc., A FARMER'S WIFE.