RURAL WORKERS.

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 246, 17 October 1929, Page 13

RURAL WORKERS.

SEEKING RELIEF JOBS? NO TENDENCY IN OTAGO. EXPERIENCED MEN SCARCE. (By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.) DUNEDIN, this day. "I do not think the Government's policy as regards the unemployment situation is likely to affect the market in respect to rural workers, bo far as Otago is concerned." eaid a citizen who is closely associated with the employment of labour in the country.

"It cannot be denied," he declared, "that for years farmers have enjoyed the benefits of cheap labour, particularly ploughmen, for whom some farmers are "not prepared to pay even 25/ or 30/ a week." Sir Joseph Ward's scheme, he added, would classify farm labour. "So far no instances have come under my notice of farm labourers leaving their work to go to unemployment work. At this time of the year, the middle of the season, there is always a dearth of experienced farm labour, and the position is no worse than usual. Men are constantly coming and going, and if a position does not suit them they will throw it up. "In some parts of Otago," he said, "ploughmen are asked to 'bach.' They have to rise at 5 a.m., cook their own breakfast and make their lunch to take out to the field with them. They do not arrh'e back until late in the evening, and after tending to their teams, have to set to and cook a meal —and all for £2 a week, in many cases."