FARMERS' UNION AND LABOUR.

Otaki Mail, 22 January 1919, Page 3

FARMERS' UNION AND LABOUR.

To .the Editor. ~ ...j Sir,—ln your issue of the 15th I read a "report of the meeting of N.Z. Farmers' Union at Otaki, and I see that Mr Field urged all farmers and farm labourers to join, but makes no mention Of 'the. benefits to be got by labourthrough joining the union. The writer's experience of tho union, is that they tory to secure the very highest price for their products and also cheap shipping rates. There are other things mentioned at the union's meetings, but I have not heard of them bringing pressure to bear on the Government, so that the cost of living is brought down. A leading member of the union stated recently that not a pound of butter should bo . sold over the counter to workers stag others for less than 2s per pound. K Justice Stringer commenting very j strongly on the unnecessary high cost of living, says that enormous profits are l being made, the burden of which falls i on the worker. Until this state of J affairs is put right there will be trouble and plenty of it, and I for one don't blame the workers if they make it pretty hot. The Farmers' Union, if they aro sincere, can be a big help in j this matter, but will they? I doubt it. j As in the past, they will want the last j farthing for their produce. H % a good many of them have bought land far too dear, well, that is their lookout! Let them cut out the land agent, and think twice before mortgaging up to tho hilt. I just mention this because it bears indirectly on the cost of living. It may be that the Otaki branch' will deal it* out fairly ,tb the toiler, but among the names of members arc a few who could , hardly be described as philanthropists. I Let rational labour form their own unions. They are quite capable of doing so, and they are also capable of running the country without the aid of Bed Feds or I.W.W.'s.

I see Mr Field has just found out that he should not have supported the Coalition Party, and is <k. doubt considering which side of the fence he will fall on when- the election takes place. He seems to be a .second edition of the t Vicar of Bray. No matter what king or party, he "will still be member for Ptaki. —I am, etc., BON ACCOBD. Otaki, January. 18th, 1919.