King Country Chronicle Saturday, March 30th, 1912. FARMERS AND STRIKES.

King Country Chronicle, Volume VI, Issue 452, 30 March 1912, Page 4

King Country Chronicle Saturday, March 30th, 1912. FARMERS AND STRIKES.

The letter published by the execuI tive of the Farmers' Union dealing with the subject of strikes draws atj tentiun to the complex nature of our social fabric. It also points to the well organised fact that the various sections of society are dependent upon each other and that for prosperity and progress to remain with a country it is essential that the component parts should each exist under the best possible conditions. In order to secure such conditions, and maintain the smooth working of the social machine, upon which the prosperity of the various sections depends, it is necessary that mutual interest Bhould be fronted, and that each should assist [ the other in securing the best conditions. Unfortunately the superficial interests of some of the sections lie so far apart that little concern is manifested in the strivings of one by the other, until a crisis arrives, and seriously threatens the interests of all. It is a commonly accepted idea that in case, of necessity the farmer could exist on his farm, and stand aloof from the industrialists or labourer in his disputes with the employer. As a plain matter of fact in this country he is the most vitally interested person imaginable. In case ot [ a general strike every branch of trade [ would be so dislocated that serious** j financial results would immediately | ensue. This would spell disaster to a largo number of farmers. Even if the farming community maintained the usual output from the farms means of transport would be so restricted that produce could not be handled, and in the event of farmers endeavouring to handle their own output the work on the farms must suffer, and the farms must cease to produce as of yore. If pushed to the last extremity, the farmer, it is claimed, could produce sufficient to live on and remain independent. Ho could, if he happened to be in the fortunate position of own ing, without incumberance, his own farm and stock, and wbb indifferent as to whether or not he reverted to a 'state of semi-barbarism. That is, providing the horde of hungry industrialists that would be let loobo on the country calmly allowed him to Bit peacefully under hiß own vino and fig tree. The chanceß of such a happening being allowed to take place can readily be assessed without thinking deeply. The great labour question is not to be solved by the farming community more than it is by the labourers or industrialists. The tendency of the moment evinced by town workers to revert to the brutal and barbarous strike methods is to be deplored in every sense. Should such tendency develop into reality the act would rapidly bring its own retribita tion, and no condemnation that could be levelled at the workers would be so drastic as the suffering and misery that would inevitably descend upon the heads of guilty and innocent alike. Moreover, even tho pleasure of having So s::y " t (old you Bo t ' f would be small

clearly the direful outcome of wrongheaded actions to all classes of the community. Furthermore, the knowledge that one had the prescience to predict the inevitable outcome would sbe small consolation to the person who suffered severely himself. It is to be huped every effort to avert the strike calamity will be put forth, and it is the duty of farmers as it is the duty of every section of the community to use their best efforts to assist in the matter. The Farmers' Union, by publishing the letter, has rightly explained that any action taken by the farmers in the event of a strike would be absolutely necessary in self protection, and to minimise the hardship which would be occasioned by an occurrence for which they were not responsible, and which they had no means of averting. We trust sincerely the present cloud which overcasts the labour world will evaporate iu the light of more illuminating counsel, and that a truly deep and genial bond of sympathy will be established among all classes in both town and country. To fight is a simple solution of any difference, but word history teaches that in order to progress and prosper, and maintain it integrity the inhabitant of any country must be inspired by a high common ideal, and work in harmony to attain it. Such a prospect presents itself to the inhabitants of our Dominion as has been granted to few countries, and it would be a calamitj should internal dissension be allowed to obliterate it.