WHO IS MAKING THE PROFIT?

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 2, 27 September 1918, Page 6

WHO IS MAKING THE PROFIT?

Sir,—l seri Mr. Atmore uses the usual parrot cry that the" are making all the money. Well, while he was about it, he might as well have mentioned the grocer, butcher, fisherman, and draper. ' They make nothing, of course, but are losing money no. doubt. If Mr. Atmore would study -facts he would find that the average (farmer is not making money out of this war. Take chaff, for instance, the farmer grows this, stands "all the cost of rent, weather, and wages, and sells it at £4 10s. to £5 per tonj but when it appears on the market it is sold at. from £10 10s. to £14 per ton; also wool. The average price for North Island wool is about 14d. per lb., but go into a shop and buy that wool for knitting or other purposes, and you,pay. from a shilling >to Is. sd. per skein, making the wool about 18s. per lb. I could quote other tilings by the dozen. Who is making 'the profit? If one protests you are told that it is the high wages paid that is responsible tfor it all. The retailer says it costs so much after leaving the producer that he is obliged to charge these prices. Last year the growers had almost to - give potatoes away, and yet they were 1 selling in "Wellington at such a price that one would have thought there was not a potato in the country. It is ho use "blaming any Government for the cost of_ living. _ Different; factors cause prices +o rise; the first and principle one being "supply and-demand;", and I think. New Zealand as a whole is very fortunate with her high wnf.es, and reasonable .food prices. The New Zealand farmer is not getting anything like.the prices for his produce that the English, South American, or United States farmer is getting, and the latter are all nearer the world's markets.. I notice at Mr. Mack's meeting one man suggested "Why. not do like the Bolsheviki did — take the land?" Well, I would advise that man to go to Russia and gratify his desires; but let me tell him' that- the Bolsheviki will not have the land long. They will yet meet" the fate of all robbers and murderers. In conclusion, let me say that "talk", at any time is cheap, especially when there is' £300 a year-attached to it.— I am,: etc., ■ •. " ■ . • ' FACTS.