THE FARMERS' UNION.

Otaki Mail, 7 February 1919, Page 4

THE FARMERS' UNION.

(By "TE.KC.OTL")

' So: WO have, another attempt at- ji Farmers-'. H 1 " 011 '. 'A "union is a real necessity to''tho ""farmer. " -The .whole of his troubles might have beeD avoided, in time past by a real union. The old union was "certainly worse than .useloss to the real 'farmer—it was useful only to the landowner, a very different thing. We have ofton had the strange sight of a farmer who OAvncd his land and who worked like a slave —the result being that on one hand he was regarded as being a landowner, while on tho other hand he was penalised as being a fanner! And to-day if any farmer is doing well it.is by virtue of holding land cheapei; than market price. I defy any farmer, uulcss he already holds very- considerable capital, to-work reasonably and still do well at market prices for land. ; The real farmers were not foolish enough to support the old union"; they recognised that the big landowners who ran the union were doing them no good, and now they, recognise that the big landownors e are their natural enemies, and the natural enemies to all useful work

IBut it is 1o be hoped thai the working farmers will join this new union and make it a success. .Since their [number, voting strength, and subscription list arc overwhelming, they ought not to fear the Big Man. Watch' him certainly. He is suicOto attempt to use the union for his old games. But surely they arc well enough known, now. Briefly, his game is to be solicitous in getting high prices for the* farmers' produce, and then putting upthe price of land accordingly.' "But;"' you say, ."supposing he wore out of the union altogether, how arc wc to prevent him making land dear and labourcheap? We ,aro not likely to ask for smaller prices for our produce, in-the hope that it will cheapen land." That is just Ihe point. • Where both are concerned, anything that relatively increases the price of .working plant (laud in thifi ease) decreases the prices of labour, and vice versa. Till now* the whole trend has been toward increasing the puke of land at the expense of price of labour.-. Land has continually increased ill price, - while in spite of increasing returns, . for produce, the farmer (so far as he is genuine farmer and not landowner) still must work long hours in nil weathers for u living—must call on hjs wife j and family for help. In short, although f prices,are so high, farming does not 'pay.' If a fanner is prosperous, it is in virtue of holding land at below market prices, or in putting in extra labour, probably that of his family. Check tho price of land by raising the valuo of .labour.- When, you consider the purchase of a farm, say, "How many hours a day must I work for tho return? —twelve hours a day for £SOO a year? Not good enough!" But what has'this to do with the union? And how shall.wo get all farmers to do this? One question answers the I other. Make it a real union/ Tajie a leaf from any trade union, and make it one of the union rules. Start Witb 3 say, that children under sixteen shall inot work on farms. After thing's were adjusted to this, the only effects wouM be tho bettenuenfc of our fa?? and a less price for lajid. I see no chance of farmers being able to make a living with a reasonable amount of; work till they are bound to work no more than. I\ is reasonable. Clearly, high prices for I ! produce alone are of no use. The preI'sent day shows that. Trade' unions i have found it absolutely necessary. t# ' bind their members not to work more than certain hours. Without this restriction some workers will be tempted to work, longer, with the. inevitable cheapening of labour. Form a union jon these lines, and the price of land I will shrink, you will have a far better return for your labour, and . you will t have the help of official Labour. I It is all in your own hands. Whether [you like the present aspect of the union I or not, join it; and by voice and vote, to say nothing of subscription,. you can I make it as you would have it.