LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 240, 4 July 1919, Page 8

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

A FREE MARKET FOR OUR PRODUCE

Si r —I wonder if any of your readers have read the remarks of Major Cliapple, formerly M.P. for Tuapekn, and who foiseveral "yeare past has been resident in the Old Country and occupied ai seat in the House of Commons as M.I. for Stirlingshire. Major Chappuj said: ' -Vnv Zealand has never had a fair deal Oμ the Home markets, and things were worse during tho war." He saw 300 Southdown sheep being sold by an English farmer to a butcher at M each. Wool, he .says, according to a London "Tunes' of recent date was recorded as having been sold at auction at Gs. Id. per lb." Was New Zealand, asked Mr. Chappie, getting anything approaching that for its mutton and wool? In face of these facts I ask the farmers of New Zealand to wait on the Prime Minister as soon as he arrives, and have the restrictions removed as recards open competition in the world: s markets. The farmers are faced with another rise botli in shearing and fihed hands' wages this coming season; we have extra land taxes, rates, and all sorts of things. But, putting that aside, we hear a great deal of the necessity of producing and producing in order to help nav the immense interest charge that has to be met. Therefore, why ie this money thnt is being lost to New Zealand not allowed to be paid to those to whom it is due? Naturally, it follows if these millions come into , the oountry they will be spent iu the country, and incidentally it benefits everyone all round. We farmer* aro being restricted like a lot of children, and no one seems to raise Ins voice and make a protest■r'^^'yj^jf