PUBLIC OPINION

Waikato Times, Volume 127, Issue 21196, 20 August 1940, Page 7

PUBLIC OPINION

As expressed by correspondents whose letters are welcome, but for whose views we have no responsibility. Correspondents are requested to write in ink. It is essential that anonymous writers enclose their proper names as a guarantee of good faith. Unless this rule is complied with, their letters will not appear.

TRANSPORT MATTERS

(To the Editor) Sir,—The plaintive note struck by the late president of the Hamilton Carriers’ Association concerning the resignation of himself and others from the Hamilton Carriers’ Association reminds one of that noble poem, which goes something like this:— The lives of great men all remind us We can make our lives sublime. And departing leave behind us Footprints on the sands of time. So far only one side of the transport industry has been given full rein through the Press. Might not the other side be equally interesting, and may it not be instructive, at the same time, particularly in view of the late president’s remarks? Obviously there is, or was, something wrong. Was it political, financial or personal? Surely the general public has a right to know the full facts and judge accordingly. It would at least open up a fresh topic of discussion and leave to rest a while in peace the drivel on the Tory versus Labour questions, of which the majority have had full and sufficient to last at least until the next government elections. The soulful remarks of the late president that he willingly withdrew could no doubt be verified by the carriers left in the association, and his assurance that no obstruction would be placed in the way of the association should be accepted, and would no doubt be welcomed by them as a guarantee of good faith of Mr Kendall and his party or company. What caused all the bitterness and the personal feeling? Surely something must have given sufficient cause for such drastic action.—l am, etc., VERY INTERESTED. Hamilton, August 17.

GUARANTEED PRICES

(To the Editor) Sir,—Can anyone inform the farmers why Mr Nash every year delays the fixing of the guaranteed price for dairy produce until the production season is well under way? On the first occasion there might have been some excuse but the guaranteed price scheme has now been in operation long enough to be brought up-to-date. To farm successfully we have to plan some distance ahead, and when we do not know what our income will be we are seriously handicapped. We imagine that an arrangement will be made for a continuance of last year’s prices, with a faint hope that some increase will be made in allowance for our increased costs, but there is no guarantee about it. In fact the only guarantee about the guaranteed price seems to be that Mr Nash will fix it according to his own opinion of what is right and proper. The Government has known all along that the arrangements for the past season would expire at a certain date. It knows also that it is a matter of importance to dairymen to know beforehand what the prices are to be. Why then did the Government not take steps long ago to have a decision announced promptly at the beginning of the season? One cannot imagine it is done to annoy the farmers, but are not the farmers of sufficient importance to warrant a little consideration? If we planned an outlay this season on the assumption that we would receive a certain income, and then when the season was well advanced, discovered that our “wages” were to be cut down, many of us would be in an awkward position.—l am, etc., DAIRYMAN. Ohaupo, August 19.