IF FARMERS STRUCK.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 9, Issue 570, 28 September 1920, Page 3

IF FARMERS STRUCK.

• HINT TO LABOUR. The American Faimer publish-.* the following article: -, « . "The farmers keep* their ntaus when all others fly oil' the track. We ask citv workers to ponder a moment what might happen il the termers should do what the workeis are doing—demanding shorter hours and higher pay. The farmers arc thenown bosses, so they would not have to quarrel with anybody. They would aold out on strike until they got good and ready, lor they can feed themselves. You working city fellows, suppose for a moment that the farmers adopted the eight-hour day. it would cut down production at least half. Suppose tivey also set a price on their iabour and their products based on an eight-hour scale. Whera would you gel your food'.' Only the

rich would buy il at all, for the price nould be prohibitive to men on strike, if the coot of living is too high ,iow, how will lessened production afect it? How will increased costof production bring prices down? You live now. because the farmers work learer sixteen hours a day than jight hours. Vou can buy foofl be:ause the farmers have' not. cornered the market and said: i'We demand so much for our products or wo won't work." • If you city workers expect the fanners to go on feeding you at the old price you have got to get hack to work at old wages, and make it possible for the farmer to bincheaper so he can produce cheaper. This is not a one-sided game. It takes two to play it, and ifjyou cit\ fellows quit, don't get sore if you go hungry soon. Either the farmers must do as you are doing, shorten the hours and demand higher, pay! or else you must lengthen the hours and produce more without more pay. The fanners have been patient with you. When they lose their patience, look out. What city workers have in common with farmers i-; r.ol so much political as economic. What atv you going to do about it '.'