LABOUR ON THE LAND.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 285, 1 December 1936, Page 6

LABOUR ON THE LAND.

THE FARMER'S POINT OF VIEW. "(To the Editor.) I am sorry "Exiled" has been unfortunate in his country jobs. Need lews to say, there are any number of farms and homes where conditions and living are far superior to a good many homes in the city. If he has been unfortunate in his jobs, we also have been most unfortunate in any help that has been sent us from the city. We nave employed boys for many years, good, bad and. indifferent, but our pet abomination is the so-called "superior boy." They think they are the only ones entitled to consideration. But the ones who have least respect and have done most damage to our property have "been city boys who have "come from good homes" (?) and want and expect the best with top wages thrown in. ' One special case was so "superior" that someone had to come and inspect us before the boy was allowed to take the job. "Sonny" got good wages and was treated well, but for unclean habits, selfishness and ingratitude "Sonny" was the limit. It is always the "superior" ones who are able to see an elderly woman chopping wood and never dream of taking the axe out of her hand. If they are, or think they are, not treated well, they do not hesitate writing to the papers or complaining to the Minister of Labour. No! I don't think we have been at all pleased with our city boys. BAY OF PLENTY.

In reply to "J.C.'s" letter, however true some of his statements may be, I seem to remember that during the election campaign the Labour party promised the farmers, their wives and families a decent standard of living, coupled with the ability to employ sufficient labour to do away with the necessity for the womenfolk to have to slave away in the cow sheds. In fact when listening to the big guns of the party one was almost led to believe that if returned to power they would usher in the perfect State—in fact Utopia. But what do we find to-day? Farmers unable to get competent men, even at the wages as fixed by the Government, so it is no use "J.C." or anyone else trying to throw the blame for this state of affairs on to the shoulders of former Governments, because, as I pointed out in my letter published by you. tlie present Government, which promised the farmers so much and gave them so little, has got the erstwhile farm workers on public works, so it might be as well to let the blame rest where it rightly belongs. C. BROCKWAY. | |