THE COST OF LIVING.

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2384, 13 February 1915, Page 9

THE COST OF LIVING.

Sir,—ln yours of yesterday is a report of the meeting at the Town Hall, and it seems that Mr. If: T. Moore is of opinion that the Farmers' Union is responsible for the increase in the price of broad, meat, and butter, and that wheat could be produced at 4s. per bushel, and when a higher-pried was asked the growers were exploiters of the public. 'He then tells us what Mr. Seddon would have done had he been alive. With regard to that opinion, I have nothing to 6ay, as I am not a olairvoyant, but I know something of the other business, and would ask Mr. Moore from Vliat factor does he reoeive his now high rate of wages? Would ha like the prices to' go back to 4d. per lb. for butter, 14s. and 15s. per cwt. for beef, 3d. par lb. for wool, and 2s. 6d. per bushel for wheat? If so, will, he tell me what wage 6 then he would be entitled to, or could earn at the production. I was one of the directors (cho3en by the settlers) to build a factory to. try and get out of the 4d. per lb. for butter business, and would'inform Mr. Moore that milk was sold by the settlers at the remunerative rato of 2jd. per gallon,, and for several seasons to establish the industry without a particle of aid from the Government .in any way whatever. Why did not Mr! Moore's friends come forward aiid help the farmers in 6ome way ? I iorget—they did the same year,- (1890) by striking for a higher rate of wages for handling the said produce. At the same time, the farmers gave several truck loads of bullocks at 15s. per cwt. to open up a market for beef and try frozen sheep on the London market, although it was worth more' on. €he local market, and now it is a higher price, Tho wage-earner wants the man who raised his wages to give his produce at less than it is worth in the world's market. Then, as Mr. J. Thorne is reported to have said, that as a return for all that was done for him, the Government should be empowered to insist on every farmer putting down every' year a. certain area in wheat which would be bought by the Government in case of necessity at-a price which would insure, the grower against loss. Now, Mr. Editor, I would suggest that Messrs. Thorne and Moore petition the Government_ to grant them a tract of land and go in for the said products, pay their curreut wages, and then tell us what labour is worth, and what the staple products can be produced at. Do Messrs. Moore and Thoruo grow their own vegetables or buy them from the Chinaman. The only person who can grow said necessaries without auy loss of time are the City worker. How many do it. Possibly those gentlemen will try and Ascertain at the next meeting, and see if something can be done to that end. Tho wholo of these industries have been started and successfully carried out without Government aid; then what ! does tho farmer o\fo the Government, as is conveyed in Mr. Thome's suggestion? —I am, etc., ' PRODUCER,