A Farmer’s View of Politics.

Gisborne Times, Volume VI, Issue 198, 28 August 1901, Page 3

A Farmer’s View of Politics.

It may not be out of place (writes J.A.8., Marion), to put the political situation from a farmer’s standpoint. During the last ten years the Ballance-Seddon administration has passed a number of muchneeded labor reformo. But is it not nearJy time that the labor laws should have a spell, and see whether those in force are going to pan out as intended '? The unions throughout the colony should be satisfied with a fair thing. It seems as if they are courting a similar disaster to that tvhieh befel the Seamen’s Union in 18S9. The Workers’ Compensation Act, as applying to farmers, is an Act that could have been very well done without. It carries out the late Sir Harry Atkinson's idea of universal insurance, but at the expense of the farmer or employer. Now, the farmer gets no eight hours’ recreation, and I do not mind I asserting that the average farmer does not [ get sixpence an hour wages; yet out of this miserable sum he has to insure others. The cheap money scheme undoubtedly did a lot of good, but this has been counteracted to a great extent by increased values, and now that values have reached their full extent farmers are again pinched. An increasing land value is about the only thing that farmers relied upon to repay them for their labor. The Workers’ Compensation Act will curtail employment because no one will take any risk if it can be avoided. Of course it can be insured against, but suppose the insurance company quibbles over payment, and I know of such a case under another Act, it would ruin the average farmer in one act. If a farmer starts upon a capital of £4OO and within a month “ falls in ” to that extent, does the injured man become the employer and the other party the employee ? It docs not seem quite fair that it should be so, but apparently it is so. But, again, if a farmer injures himself seriously, | who is going to recompense him? If I one working man is protected by statute | law in case of injury, why not another

Would it not have been much better and fairer all round to have given accident eases the benefit of the old ago pensions, according to extent of injury ? A reaction might do good; but, unfortunately, all the world is looking on, and it would bo universally acknowledged that all our good legislation together with our bad was a failure, and would give individualism in other progressive countries, notably America, just the one argument needed. If Mr Seddou warns the town unions against forcing his hand, they should bo guided by it, for it is largely owing to Mr Seddon’s ability and untiring energy that the statute books record so many labor laws. Justin McCarthy says “ a movement is sustained only by that which is moderate in its demands,” and he ought to know.

Despite war and hysteria, New Zealand does not lose sight of progressive and useful legislation.—Sydney Bulletin. The proportion of pensioners to population is nearly double in Christchurch ns compared to the proportion in Auckland ; while the increased amount paid for the year ending March last as compared to the previous year was over four times as much in Christchurch as in Auckland. We have established the system and must maintain it, but it is plain that, its best friends are those who endeavor to prevent it from being an unanticipated and unendurable burden upon the national revenues.—New Zealand Herald.

As a matter of fact, New Zealand might very easily disband the whole of its volunteer forces if it instituted a system of rifle clubs adequate to cope with the shooting ambition of its citizens. The later Contingents from New Zealand for South Africa were untrained men, in the military sense, but they could ride and shoot. A few weeks were sufficient to discipline them sufficiently for all purposes, and they have certainly not shown any inferiority to the highly-trained men who preceded them.—Free Lance.

The most extraordinary feature of the Statement is that referring to public works. During last year the expenditure was £1,800,021, or .£315,000 more than in the previous year. This is about six times as much as was spent in the last year of Sir Harry Atkinson’s term of office, and is about as much as was spent during the groat boom times of Sir Julius Vogel. And if tho expenditure were analysed it would be found that much of it had gone in futile little works, on which co-operative parties had been employed.— Auckland Herald.

A striking example of tho variation in tho yielding qualities of cows comes from tho Kansas Agricultural College. An experiment at that station brought to light tho fact that, of two cows consuming practically identical rations, one gave only 373 gal of milk and 1571 b of butter fat (percentage of latter 4-21) in tho year, while the other yielded OOOgal of milk (averaging 4-21 per cent, fat) and 3831 b butter fat. Reducing tho figures to money the butter fat from the former cost lOd per lb, and that from the lattor 4d per lb.

Max O’Roll and a German Governor of one of the States of America got to be great friends, and when sufficiently familiar the Governor confided to Max that he objected to only one of his sayings—that Germans had no humour. “ Well,” said Max, “ it’s this way. I used to tell a tale of a tree that was so high that it took two men to see the top of it. One looked as far as ho could, and tho other started looking where the other left off! “ And,” added Max, “ I never met a Gorman yet who could see the joke !” “ Joke 1” replied the Touton, “ that's not a joke ; it's a lie !” It must be remembered, says the Auckland Herald, that our public debt amounts to close on fifty millions, that two millions have to be sent away every year for interest, and that, according to the Treasurer, the increased charge for interest on debt last year amounted to £70,000. A stoppage in our public works expenditure would mean the discharge of a large number of men who for some time havo been earning large wages. The effect of other legislation of the Ministry has been such that these men would have no chance of obtaining other employment, and considerable depression would take place throughout the colony.

The balance-sheet of the Barry’s Bay (Canterbury) Co-operative Dairy Factory Company, Limited, for the year ending June 20th, 1901, shows a credit o.f £526 17s od (including £36 19s brought forward from the previous year). The progress payment to milk suppliers for butter-fat was Sd per lb, the same as in the previous year, and the directors recommended a bonus of 2d per lb, which will bring the total payment up to lOd per lb, which is eminently satisfactory considering tho small output of cheese for tho season, amounting to 54J tons, which is a good, if not the best, payment per lb of fat for the quantity of milk received as that of any other cheese factory in the colony. It 'is proposed to pay a dividend of 7 per cent, on the paid-up capital of the company, which will absorb £55 11s 3d, write off £6O for depreciation on piggeries and plant; pay a bonus of 2d per lb on tho total amount of butter-fat supplied for the season, amounting to £382 6s 8d ; and carry forward a balance of £3B 19s 6d ta next" year.—Mail.

In the butter tests at tho Croydon show, England, Dr H, Watney’s Jerseys pretty well carried ail before them, winning first and second in the class under 9001 b live weight, and first and third in the heavier class, and all the three medals. The Jerseys shone triumphantly in the competitions, beating the Shorthorns and Guernseys most decisively. In the class for cows under 9001 b live weight, all the 22 cows were Jerseys, p.nd their performances averaged as follows:—Days in milk, 106; yield of milk, 331 b 84oz ; yield of butter, lib butter ratio, 17.95; and points, 34'54. In the class, 9001 bor over, there were six Jerseys and six shorthorns, and the averages work out:—Jerseys, 166 days in milk, 341 b lo.Voz of milk, 21b OJoz butter, 17'03 butter ratio, and 41-6 Q points ; and the Shorthorns, 48 days in milk, 531 b 12oz milk, lib 13|oz butter, 29-40 butter ratio, and 30'48 points. Five Guernseys averaged 83 days in milk, 341 b oloz milk, lib butter, 22-42 butter ratio, and 25'74 points. The Shorthorns won easily in the milking trials, the highest record being 631 b 4oz milk in the day.

(Last May was fatal to Russian millionaires. One of the richest men in the country, Mr Solodovnikoff, died in Moscow ; a few days afterwards news came of the death of the merchant, Mr Soldationkoff ; and now we hear of the death of Madam OvsianikoS, leaving 30 millions. Mr Solodovnikoff was worth more than fifty millions. AH this money has been earned in trade. Great was the surprise of the Muscovites when it became known that his will contained the following bequests : Thirty-six million roubles for the opening of twelve gymnasiums for the education of peasant girls and for primary schools for both sexes, and ten millions for the preparation of school masters and mistresses. As to the old merchant's relations, they had to content themselves with a few hundred thousand. FLANNELETTES.—Just Landed, from s.s. Star of New Zealand. Special Value in Plain, Striped, and Fancy Flannelettes, from 4Jd per yard.—C. Rosie <£ Co.