The Times. Published on Tuesday and Friday Afternoons. Motto: Public service. FRIDAY, AUGUST 27, 1920. TROUBLE BREWING.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 9, Issue 561, 27 August 1920, Page 2

The Times. Published on Tuesday and Friday Afternoons. Motto: Public service. FRIDAY, AUGUST 27, 1920. TROUBLE BREWING.

According to a paragraph contained in a certairnfttfnted report, Labour has threatened to come out on strike should there be a rise in the retail price of butter sold in the Dominion. If this foolish threat is given eil'ect to there will be no option for the farmers but x to take steps similar to those adopted to quell the strike of 1913. If Labour has not yet learned that it cannot dictate to our primary producers the lesson must be driven right home. What sort of a. howl would Labour send up if the farmers threatened to stop supplies of foodstuffs for the local market when higher wages were granted But it is rather unsatisfactory to dwell on the justice an&equity aspects of the question, for these things do not greatly appeal to extremists, m&o take good eare not to sadjg£ themsehjguwith the many Hujdens iranpable rom P r ' m " aftprodyjpen; A successful or lalyse the wjmjb commercial Ind of the nation, |hd it is lii fcy case, it fttimejffigt strong opposition- was against the dictatorial insj&fiftce of Organised Labour, and the farmers are the only section of the capable of successfully waging war. The outlook reminds us once again that in a large body of small landholders lies New Zealand's guarantee Of peace and prosperity. The big landholder is both a menace and a weakness, vitiating the nation's stability. The fewer hamjs the land and property in general gets into the greater becomes the number of people who are left propertyless, discontented, and without a solid stake in the country. Reverting to the particular subject of this article, as distinct frbm the general questions involved, the community at large will probably be wise to be sparing with supplies and be prepared for the worst that may happen. Above all, no weakness must be shown, and from what we can gather the struggle, if it eventuates, will be short, sharp and decisive—but Labour will not become Dictator to*lhe nation.

••-,<&