WAR PROFITS AND SECOND DIVISION

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3131, 9 July 1917, Page 6

WAR PROFITS AND SECOND DIVISION

Sir,—l, regret that your correspondent, ■writing under the nom de plume, "Second Reservist," is not game enough to sign his nanio to his somewhat acrimonious tirade. .Wisely or unwisely, I have i publicly taken the platform to assist the movement' for defending' flie ' rights of tho wives and little children who are shortly to be deprived of their malo protectors by tho calling up of tho Second Division. It hurts a bit undor tho circumstances to find myself the , target for a personal attack by some anonymous eniper who, if really a "Second Reservist," should join the league and assist in steering it along the course that ho considers it should go. I can assure your correspondent that if lie would join the league he could, under the constitution, insist on calling a. special meeting of members to deal with tho action of the president in making public the figures Telating to excess war profits of fat-stock raisers, and I have no doubt he would have an interesting and instructive evening. Your correspondent save the cost of- prodnction has gono up, and proceeds to quote instances. Farm hands' wages, he A'ays, havo increased 75 per cent., and, though the accuracy of his proportion is open to grave doubt, at the moment of writing I cannot correct it; but we all know that farming, especially stockraising, employs less labour in proportion to turnover than any other industry in the country. Cost of fencing wire, ho says, has increased from to £42 per toil, but fences last a long time, and if the cost is distributed over the life of the fence and tho number of beasts handled it would bo practically impossible to express in figures an amount small enough to represent tho increase. As a matter of fact, it is probable that 'comparatively very 'little fencing has been done since the outbreak of war. To the other items mentioned exactly the same argument applies, and the total increased cost of production would probably amount to a fraction of a penny per head! The argument put forward, therefore, is trifling iii the extreme; but even if there was really an appreciable increase in the cost of production your correspondent overlooks the fact that my figures dealt with one , branch only of tho industry," and if he wishes to delyo. into his subject a. little deeper he will find that, taking sheen aJid lambs alone, whereas the estimated excess profits on sales for killing for 1916-17 were, roughly, .£4.000,000, that before tho sheen and a certain 'proportion of the lambs came down to tlio works for killing they had already been shorn, and I am given to understand that the value of greasy wool has inc'-Mispd Bince the war by 55 per cent. Your correspondent must also be reminded that the figures produced do not represent ordinary profits, but excess profits over and above those that in 19M were apparently giving the fat-stock raisers every satisfaction. However, the figures were merely used as an illustration of tho fact that there are huge sums of money being accumulated in this, country as a direct result of the war, and that Government need have no hesitation in facing'the oroblem of increasing the allowances and pensions to soldiers and their dependants. Let me conclude by saying to "Second Reservist" that God sends the sunshine and rain that swells tho strain mid makes the grass grow, that builds up the farmer's beeves and covers the fat backs of his sheep with wool. Trod in His wisdom also provided that there should be no corners, in sunslime and rain, and tho poorest of us can bask in the one or bathe in; the other. We have no quarrel with the farmer for usin" these universal gifts to the fullest advantage, but what .we Second Division reservists realise is that it is our duty to see that the sunshine of life shall not be denied to our children should we be called away to fight, suffer, and maybe die for the protection of those who stay ■at home.—l am, etc., R. A. ARMSTRONG, President, Second Division League.

Sir—the present position in Now Zealand is that n large percentage of our eligible mule population nre either risking their lives, or will be doing so in the near future, for tlio preservation- of our rights and privileges and. the protection of our women and children ami others not able to bear arms. Incidentally also to preserve tho lands, goods, and chattels of our land barons. Many have cheerfully laid down their lives. Scores of brave hearts are mourning the loss of dear ones. Many who have gono forth have given up lucrative positions, and left their wives, children, or dependents with the miserable pittance allowed by tho State, which in normal times would be regarded as povertyworse now because of the increased cost of living. The only prospect for most who Teturn is to look for a fresh billet and start life all over again. It might well be said in general that tho soldier hae sold his present and mortgaged his future.

What, on the other hand, have the lords of sheep and cattle done? Their sacrifice is represented by enormous increased profits for tat stock, increased value of their lands and bright prospects for tho future. This letter is prompted by a criticism by "Second Division" in your issue of the 7th inst, wherein exception is taken to tho statement of Mr. Armstrong as to tho excess profit of over J!3,000,U00 (after paying taxes) made by fat-stock raisers during the season just passed. It would bo still moro interesting anil instructive if Mr. -Armstrong would go n little further, and add wool, butter, and cheese to his list, and mnkc lip the figures for the full period since the outbreak ot war.

"Second Division" accuses Mr. Armstrong of handling tho truth carelessly, in th.it lie omitted to mention the extra cost of production. He did omit this, but if we examine the items of extra cost enumerated we will probably find that the amount is so small ns not to affect the main figures to any extent. Thus: Increased wages cannot amount to much, because, apart from droving charges, stock-raisers employ very little labour. (If "Second Division" wants some figures as to the number of men.

employed ou typical sheep and cattle statious I cim givo him quite a, number.) Increased cost of living cannot be writton in small type, because the food supplied to tho few men. employed is for a great part: produced on tho owner's property. Fencing-wire, posts, strainers, galvanised iron and building material (.•mi be practically eliminated for two reasons. First because such expenditure is a permanent improvement, and, secondly, because farmers are too shrewd to pay the high prices ni/w ruling for such articles. They are waiting. Wlmt wool-packs and grain-sacks liavo to do with raising fat stock I. cannot understand. ■ Prior to tho war, prices were such to allow fat-stock raisers u handsome margin. Wo had the era ot motor-cars, joy rides, and race meetings, and it is surely n grim commentary on our economic and political system that these lingo financial gains should accrue to a few individuals while tho majority are willing that their dependants should merely exist whilo they risk their lives for those who stay at home. —I am, etc., ALSO SECOND DIVISION.

Sir, —With reference to "Second lie- oj servist's" letter in your issue of 7th a inst., I have- read same very carefully, it but fail to find any proof therein that a llr. H. A. Armstrong's statements nre absolutely contrary to fact. "Second Bosorvist" makes no attempt to prove that tho figures are wrong further than saying that they are wrong; the figures, therefore, must remain correct until other figures are forthcoming proving the inaccuracy of those given by tho president of the Second Division Loaguo. With regard to the statement made by 6 "Second Reservist" that "The Second j Division League appears to be unfortun- j ate in its leader." , This statement has 0 undoubtedly been made in haste, for t again there is a lack of proof, and the i Second Division League have, and are likely to Totain full confidence in their j president if only for the work which he e lias already done for them, and which c was done with a single eye for the bene- j fit of the mosses, proving he is "amicus s humani generis." If "Second Reserv- j ist" thinks he has a case let him fur- v nish the figures showing the exact profits j. realised through the war by the.fat- 0 stock raiser. Personally, I deprecate f tho writer, who has not the confidence | of his name, and shall be glad to sub- c scribe mine if "Second Reservist" will ■, do the same. —I am, etc., ' * HONEST JIM. ' July 7. ' j