FOOD SUPPLY IN RELATION TO TRADES UNIONS.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXIV, Issue 2792, 5 June 1890, Page 2

FOOD SUPPLY IN RELATION TO TRADES UNIONS.

TO THE EDITOR. Sin,—The onward movement now being made, in all branches of labour, by combining and marshalling their forces, presents a spectacle full of interest, What the ultimate outcome will be, he would indeed be fi bold man to predict. But while presenting so stern and unyielding a front upon questions relating to their working hours, and rate of wages, it is singular that matters affecting their food supply, which are relatively of greater importance, appear to have escaped their attention. In this connection I must acknowledge a most opportune letter, which appaared in your columns a few days since, upon the price of meat, the gist of which was that the price of butchers' meat had steadily risen, yet the fanner received nothing more for his -fat cattle, and at the present time a £G bullock was retailed at the startling price of £12. These facts merit the grave attention of us all, and particularly of the workingmen of all classes, who are the largest consumers of butchers' meat. The same remarks may be applied to the price of bread, which is, broadly speaking, about twice as much as it should be; while at the same time, farmers on all sides are discontinuing growing wheat, owing to the wretched prices olfered by millers. Then it is practically the same with fruit. The produce of our orchards is now regarded, by us as valueless, and in many instances is left to rot rather than accept the pittance offered by dealers, and at auction, yet people living in Auckland and its suburbs positively assert that fruit is becoming dearer every year, and to purchase anything like the quantity which is requisite, not merely for taste but for health, would be, to most ot them, a sheer impossibility. These matters are of vital importance to the members of the various trades and labour unions. What will it avail them if their hours are shortened, and their wages increased, if they still have to pay about twice as much as they should for their bread, meat, and fruit, the stapleH of tlieir food supply, while to their friends and coadjutors the working farmers, the question is almost one of existence. While we are exerting every effort to develop a foreign trade, our own market is practically closed to us, and by whom ? A few large financial institution 5 *, who have grasped the distributing business dictate to us what we shall receive, and to our friends and fellow-workers what they shall pay, and the difference between these two prices is so monstrous and absurd that no ordinary trade profits and expense* can possibly accouut for it. That tin volume of trade is lessened and the farmers ruined is a matter of no concern to them; supplies can be obtained from other parts of the colony, or from other colonies, but it is a matter of pressing moment to the producer and the consumer, and is certainly a, suitable question for earnest consideration by farmers' clubs, wherever situated, and perhaps I may commend it to the attention of our own Hamilton Branch. Questions of this kind are of great importance to every member of a country community, and vigorous action upon this and kindred subjects, would bs the most suitable answer to those unthinking persons who sometimes ask, " what good can fanners clubs do ?"— Yours, &c. — K C. Shei'hebd. Whiitawhata.