BOYS ON FARMS.

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 43, 20 February 1929, Page 12

BOYS ON FARMS.

In a speech at Auckland recently, Mr. Stallvvorthy is reported to have said that the unemployment in this Dominion is a tragedy, and, further, that it is a disgrace to our statesmanship. I entirely agree with Mr. Stallworthy, and 1 would like to bring before you the cause of one class of acute unemployment, and to ask if, as the workers of this Dominion have definitely struck for a Government that is out to help the workers, the subject of hour* for farm workers is likely to be brought up again next session ! I would ask: is it reasonable to expect that little boys of 14 and 15 years, fresh from schools and good homes, and anxious to make their little ways in the world should continue to be allowed to work under the conditions obtaining on some New Zealand dairy farms today V They work from four o'clock in the morning till frequently eight or nine o'clock at night, at the dreariest labour known to man, and very often under conditions, and in quarters, that the old-time American negro would have scorned. Picture a little boy working on a dairy farm of a certain class. His quarters are a shack outside, his bedding is placed on a board trestl;\ He arises at dawn and starts work on an empty stomach, and has no food until all the morning's milking and cleaning is linished at ten o'clock. His employer "don't believe in pamperin' no farm hands. Missis have got enough to do without makin' no morning tea." lieworks under no award, and so his employer can set him at any job, whether he is strong enough to do it or no— ploughing, harrowing, carting and cutting wood, cutting blackberries on a bleak desolate waste where there is no human being in eight. Perhaps the emplover has gone away to the races, and the little chap slogs on and on, sheds a few childish tears at his lonely plight, and wonders whether the employer will let him have his half-holiday this week, or will tell him, as always, that there is too much work to do to let him off. Then, if the little boy has parents he tells them about it, and he is promptly and indignantly removed. Father and mother will add another mouth to the home rather than have a boy ruined body and soul. If the boy has no home he leaves and is refused a reference, and he drifts to the town and begs for a job. He will go as kitchen boy, anything, as long as there is light and warmth and human companionship. I speak from sad experience, as a mother of boys who have undergone such treatment! COMMON 1 SIASK.