The Wool Price

Dominion, Volume 36, Issue 29, 29 October 1942, Page 6

The Wool Price

Sir, —On the average I work 12 hours a day, seven days a week, not counting two hours mending a night, so you can understand that it has taken something, drastic to make me sit up late writing this. Today I paid my monthly visit to . the shops; On the way in I read tue paper (quite a treat for me), and carefully studied the Government’s. reasons why the farmers should not have their 15 per cent, increase for their wool. The arguments were absurd, and what was worse, couched in words to mislead that section' of the •■•ommunity who will believe anything if they are told it is done to protect them. How one longs to struggle out of this fog of words, to sincerity and truth. Well, I needed a cardigan, and, time being precious, I bought one at the first shop. It was 25/6. A few shops further on, I saw an identical cardigan. It was 32/6. I had been lucky. Who increased the cost? Now. according to the Government, by paying the people who toil to produce the. wool their rightful. increase, the consumers will, have to . pay more for their goods. This is only microscopically so, as the difference between farmers’ wool price and shop wool price is so enormous already. Even if it were so, it would still not be right to divert the farmers’ money. It sounds like confiscation. Do the said consumers realize tha_t the farmers did not strike for the 15 per cent, increase. They haven’t time. It was granted to'them by the British Government to bring them, into line with certain other (on the side of the United Nations) suppliers who had demanded the increase. There is not a farmer in New Zealand who would not willingly hand that money back to Great Britain if' it would bring victory any closer. All he asks is a straight deal at home. Wnat is money compared with husbands and sons? —I am, etc., A FARMER’S WIFE. Masterton, October 20.