LIME.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXV, Issue 2848, 14 October 1890, Page 3

LIME.

TO TUB EDITOR. S(K,— 1 read Mr Forrest's reinarksat the last Farmers' Club meeting. Mr Coatea' quotation for farmer's lime is reasonable to begin willi, and if the Farmers' Clubs could combine, an Mr Forrest sensibly suggests, tbeir sphere nf usefulness would be mucli extended, but after the unsatisfactory experience of the Farmers' Co-operative fiasco, many may think it safest for the Farmers' Club to confine itself chiefly to discussing theory. Mr Forrest asks the price of salt. I saw salt made at Droitwich. Worcestershire, from the natural briue wells in immense quantities, and it can be bought in any quality-"*or rather fineness—for the quality is the same, first-class for all, at 5s per ton, f.o. b. the railway trucks. But our maternal Government, with their fostering (tore for the agricultural interests, imposes a duty of 10s per ton on this article of prime necessity, and the merchants always add a half more, or in the case of gait say 5s per ton to cover interest, etc., on the cash advanced for duty, contingency of its lobs by bad debts, and the trouble of attending to the Customs risks, etc, so that the farmers are thus virtually taxed 300 per cent on the original cost of the salt. Now that the elections are on, if the Farmers' Clubs nil over New Zealand would combine as Associated Chambers of Agriculture, and in these times of Unions determined on certain questions affecting farmers politically, that candidates must be tested by, so that they may receive the united support of the farmers, or their determined united opposition. We want men to serve our interests, and pledged to do it, not merely to represent themselves or their party of friends.—l am, etc., WM. Aroh. Murray.