FARMERS AS BUILDERS.

Taranaki Daily News, 3 June 1918, Page 3

FARMERS AS BUILDERS.

To the Editor. Sir,—Re "Patriot's'' senseless letter in Wednesday's issue, I would like to enlighten him on the facts of tie case, of which he shows himself to bo absolutely ignorant. To begin with, the factory that he says was built on Hurford Road was built in October, 1913, long before war was declared. There was a factory built on Barrett road in 1915, and then the shortage of labor was not very acute. Some of the men employed there then 'have sine® been to the v/ar, done their bit, and returned. This factory was built by the chairman, and there was one other farmer employed on the job, who : has a small farm near by and who has always gone out by day work. After the factory was built the chairman had to employ labour on his farm to make up for lost time while building the factory, so what he made on the one hand lie had to spend with the other.

Now, with regard to the factory being built at Hurford Road, not at Omata, "vPatriot' - ' says there are three farmers employed, one living half a mile distant, one about three-quarters of a mile, the third living about a milo and a-half away. The first two mentioned are small farmers and always have gone out by day work when required. The third also goes out ploughing, etc., when required. One of these 80-called squealers has been called in a Second Division ballot, and is shortly leaving for camp. A fourth local man employed is a man who was rejected from camp after several moitths' training and who had disposed of his farm previous to entering camp.

How "Patriot" gets the idea into his head that farmers for miles around are falling over themselves to get a job is beyond me to say, and furthermore the contractor went to these farmers and asked them to come and help, so IPatriot" has made no effort to stick to the truth of the matter. In conclusion, Mr Editor, may I ask 'Tatriot" to go and see the doctor before he rushes into print again over matters which he proves himself to be grossly ignorant, and to state facts, not a lot of rotr—l am, etc., PACTS. Omata, May 30.

To the Editor. Sir,—With your permission I will correct a few misstatements made by your correspondent "Patriot." Tn» Hurford Eoad factory was not built some time ago, but is now in the course of construction. The chairman of the factory has never worked on the job, not even been in a it state of health to work on his own farm. It is rather amusing to read of "Patriot's" version of how the cockies swarm around after a job. As a matter of fact most of the | ones that are now working there were asked to come, and are small farmers that never did depend solely upon their I farms, but went out to work in the slack time.

And if not working at the factory could get any amount of work elsewhere. I would invite "Patriot" to come and join the numerous cockies that are looking for a job at the Hurford Road factory, as I am quite prepared to give up my much coveted job to him at a moment's notice, and I can assure him that he will not be expected to work for nothing.—l am, etc., ONE OF THE COCKIES. Omata, May 30.