STATE STEAMSHIP SERVICE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVI, Issue 171, 19 January 1914, Page 6

STATE STEAMSHIP SERVICE.

- ' To tin: Kditor. Sir, —A little while back a pur appeared in the Xews to the cil'ect that the Stoke Fruitgrowers' Association had approached the Fxocutivc of the Taraiiaki Farmers' Union for support, of the proposal that t!i« State lake over or inauj guratu the sea transport of produce. ! The paragraph, further intimated that J the proposal elicited considerable disI mission, culminating in the decision that : the Tnranaki farmers were not, in favor of the proposal. Well, 1 never: Who are the. executive of the Fanner*' Union? And how many farmers comprise the 'Tnion'".' Whr.l do tile hulk of the laud workers mean hv allowing a few "'tongue twisters" to act'as if they hud the whole of the fanners of Taramiki at their back? 1 can well recognise that they must do something, for the money anil the hu;:c quantity of blatherskite annually voided would not do any harm, perhaps, but I do object, to such, taking it upon themselves to speak or act on behalf of the majority of the fanners. A census of the members of the dilVerent •branches which can he called contributing ones will show that the presumption of the Incentive is just a bit like—well, impudence. 1 hope readers will not get the idea that I. am antagonistic to farmers' unions. If the present idea had let a man have his own opinion regarding politics (thai k left politics out •of its actions) ami had united to benetit the condition of the small working farmer—the man who plods and toils •and says nothing- -there's no doubt the Farmers' Union would mean somethingwhen it did "buck" against impositions, but the past land not very far past) history of the concern has shown actions that are repugnant to the small man who, when asked | 0 contribute to the funds to provide cheap trips for (lie delegates, calmly wink 'toiher eve. < If the farmers will only sum up the "takings" per union ui'ns. comity expenses, harbor board due., hospital fees, etc., doled out to some of those who are supposed to be working for the good of tile community, it will be seen that some of these sacrilicial spirits are doing ;■ roaring hit-incs, and the farmer need not wonder any more why a certain crowd "keep (hi- bellows Mowing." It is every man's duty, I hold, to 'do the best he can, according to his abilitv, 'for the. bc'iolit of the cnimnunilv, and to try to leave this old whirligig a bit better than he found it. but I'm hanged if 1 recognise that lie can be called cj public-spirited man if lie wants to draw tip-top wages for «o doing—and. later on, the press inform the public how much was sacriliied Jiv so-and-so in the interests of the public. If there were no good "screw" attached the gents, wouldn't be heard of. Where's the sucrilicc? lint I'm getliu" iiway from the subject. I really do think that, considering (he pros' and ,cons as to the Stale adopting sea transport have not been put ■before'the farming community, the Tarnnaki Farmers' Union Executive were just a hit too previous in its decision, and it is Mich-like actions in the past regarding important matters concerning farmers that prevents the expansion of the union idea. Whether th.ev like it or not the "self-important" ones will find that to be true. -I am, etc., - .ion i:. si mi\•-•ox. Durham lload. I