ENCOURAGEMENT TO FARMERS.

Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 1295, 1 June 1880, Page 2

ENCOURAGEMENT TO FARMERS.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE OAMAItCT MAIL. Sib,—ln last night's paper you publish some correspondence relative to the prohibition of the use of sugar in making beer and the compulsory substitution of barley. I ; am neither a brewer nor a farmer, hqt J am honestly and earnestly the friend of the farmers, and in every way open to me I use what little influence I possess to encourage an industry which is "essentially the source of prosperity to every country. While this is so, I cannot advocate or support a proposition so manifestly unjust and unwise as that contained in the resolution passed by the Corn Exchange Committee at Qhriptghurph. It is an interference with freedom of trade, and is simply protection in an undisguised and unmitigated form. Any approach to the adoption of protection I am heartily opposed to, believing, as I do, wifh Mr. Driver, the member for Roslyn, that suoh a course of legislation will eventually ruin thp Colony if once entered upon and carried out to the extent that would be insisted upon, for it is iu practice, like ft horse-leach, insatiable. If the advocates of the proposed measure can really prove that beer made from sugar is injurious or dangerous in its use to Her Majesty's lieges, then by all means let a law be made to prevent brewers from leaking a beverage of such a nature. If this cannot be proved, why should the legislature be asked to pick out a single class of manufacturers, and prescribe to them how to make their goods. Now that the markets for barley and oats are glutted, and the prices' are likely to remain unremun'erative for a longtime, would it not be \yiser a.nd a more appropriate plan for the farmers to produce such articles as will command a market, as wool, meat, butter, cheese, and it might be even sugar beet, for sugar' making, to supply the brewpries of the Colony. Adqiit, for the sake of illustration, that it is expedient and proper to compel brewers to use barley in lieu of sugar in order to encourage farmers, it might easily be shown how other manufacturers and traders could be forced to change their style of doing business. The practice of economy and thrift is now seriously urged upon the community from one end of the: Colony to the other, and if the liberty of the subject cat; he interferedl with in regard tq what he drinks, why not in what he eats arid:otherwise consumes 1 If substantial encouragement is to be given to agriculturists let me suggest the passing of an Act compelling the community to use barley in the shape of pearl barley and barley scones, and substitute oatmeal porridge for the wasteful extravagance of using tea and sugar—the products of other countries ! Some years ago, as an encouragement to farmers to grow barley, the distillation of spirits was allowed ; and scarcely had this manufacture been entered upon when it ayas stopped, but for what reason I have dr been able to find out. Of this I an? certain, a more impolitic course could not have been adopted than the uncalled for stoppage of distillation. There seems to be no finality in any kind of legislation in this country,, for in numberless instances what is done in one session of parliament ig undone in the next, and I fear if - the resolution of the Christchurch Corn Exchange is given effeot to now, that before the brewers have fully entered upon the new system of making beer frommalt and hops only," the order will go forth—" As you gentlemen." I am, however,- open to conviction, and will'-''be-glad to' see the subject well. ventilated, Eind subscribe myself, The Farmers' Friend. '" " : — : — ♦ '