FARM HALF-HOLIDAY.

Auckland Star, Volume XLIV, Issue 278, 21 November 1913, Page 11

FARM HALF-HOLIDAY.

Whatever labour unions may think to the contrary, a jhaJf-holiday on the average farm is. impracticable, and some other means will have io be devised to meet the requirements of the miiker and horseman, says a writer iv the Utago •"Witness." , ine can sympathise with the desire or" farm labourers to enjoy the same privileges as tradesmen in the chief centre; and country townships; but during the whole of the milking season, which means nine or ten months in the year, it is impossible to concede half a day in the week or arrange v fixed weekly half-holiday. During all the bu.-y times of the year ii would be quite as difficult. The cows must be milked, live stock must be fed, and the team attended to on Sunday as well as Saturday, and every day in the week. One (ante, shut up the farm like the factory, and walk off with the key in his pocket. It is impossible to discipline the season, lengthen out the term of sunshine, or k"ep away frost. If the money is to be obtain,... to pay for labour. Nature insists that every farm operation shall be done in its proper season. At certain seasons of the year it is \ital that everyone available shall work as long and as constantly as possible to take advantage of favourable conditions. .. compulsory stoppage of work even fur half a day would throw away opportunities wt.i ■:: miifiit iv . recur, and' risk the loss of the nop being den ir with. Every fay v:;-.: Mc opportunity Lis to lie .'eized by tlie success. farmer who -ar: employ n-u- ii labour. Bevel ,11 this, the d.rn.ind fur a compulsory stoppage of ••■,;■'-: -~; j, h has to be dune is u;ire,-..n-_> c. Kami labour bruKtu whether -iv- men v o: i< i-. -.-.-.» Weather ..- r.ut. ir: ;'. fac uy when title of •;•.■ 'v.-'r ' I'rJ-ss "■}'„ ~'..... ".■'•'•.'', to ha-" i-:f:u: ."'.' !._' ..:r d'.-duc-ed •■■.."'. farm -.■■.;., ..... . ;.'-.- be secur--d by giving,,., annual holiday, and making at*raneru.....rs g f , r ,iri: time to replace" the •R..-. ...' : ;r : ~! :. .r h: ;..;.,i r' :!1 ; ;:;I 1: u ' secure a t-;,.. -.■:■,.-,- -..- .-. ~..',. r»s n •;. .. -.-..- : , ,| ~ ~, obu -~' ,-. , ~ -' . i , ■ , ... . the,-.,_.- '...'.■,.,' .'•"'.'",';...;. L ."" The e.-r. .::.':.-.;-• '.-'!.■••''innii-'-* to"'r'."'' : s. k «*"....V".,' .■;. : ';.:.'.: ; ;",.' f J"; [;," r " T , CQ-l.Tt.- ■~,,-: ; ~ -••- ~.,<■; ,ffo rt'to--a.-!aiod':,ny':.ug. ; r'andt.;k, no r ■ :• r-a - - ,:-. -r .."• ~- ....,..,:. - Spe.- •,..,' •' .., |r , ~■_ |,e-.,veen in ci .■■-.-.. . ~ i ~ .;' i i ' .' .'.'.':' ; ;.',,''. T : T:'r?' l ' ly r r " y ~ Pays for •" ••■!. '■ ~,,- i,, i i - Pfvster tie s_ :t ;_. ni ,. nt r.f j-. Tie relations between the farmer and his men

at present require no drastic or artificial change. If left alone the men are satisfied with the present arrangements, and many of them deprecate any interference with their liberty of action. There is no justification for driving farm , labour which desires to be free into the ; lash of the union whip, nnd it is high I time some action was taken to stop the i work of labour agitators in that rej specs.