THE WORKERS’ UNION.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2527, 11 July 1893, Page 2

THE WORKERS’ UNION.

R. Thew. Peel Forest, July 7th, 1893.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir, —Just another few lines before I retire from the contest unbeaten ; for if “Mr Hammond’s Mate ” can’t bring forward better arguments than those in his last letter he is not worth the candle, and I shan’t waste my midnight oil over him any longer. He said that it took me a long time to concoct my letter, but still for all that he fails to prove it false. It appears to me that the union and mill-owners have gone into partnership. Now, if a farmer has 5000 bushels of grain, and the rise is from 9d to lOd on mill-owners’, this means a halfpenny rise on the farmer; and if the rise is from lOd to Is next year this would mean another penny rise on the farmer, or £3l 5s on 5000 bushels. And this is what Union man calls justice—when farming does not pay at the present price! I wish not to be misunderstood. No one desires more than I do to see men get fair wages, and very few farmers pay higher wages than I do. Union men tell me that mill-owners are making from £6 to £7 ft thousand clear profit. If so, why non keep the mill-owner in his place ? And if they cannot do this let Union men get their own mills, and then they would get the farmers’ threshing. This is what caused ray long delay before writing my second letter. Union men told me that they would bring it f up at their meeting. I gave plenty of time for this and hearing more about it 1 thought it time to loO.k after rny own interest. Someone gave the Labour’ Union bad start, and the men ought to rectify it.— I am, etc., E. Burke, Geraldine.