FARM LABOUR

Press, Volume LXXII, Issue 21904, 3 October 1936, Page 20

FARM LABOUR

TO THE EDITOB OF THE PEESS. Sir,—l have read with interest some of the correspondence in your columns relating to farm labour, conditions, etc. No doubt the farm hands have something to grumble about. Low wages and poor conditions contribute to 80 per cent, of the dissatisfaction among the lads on the farms. Thera is no doubt that conditions on mme farms could be improved. Such things as a copper to heat water, and decent bath fireplace, etc., would contribute largely to the comfort of several farm hands (because one naturally gets a bit grubby at farm work). The Saturday half-holiday would no doubt re a great innovation. But I should think that it should be made compulsory that the employee should not go off the place, but do his washing, etc. Then such an innovation would not be abused. But then there arc imps who would not be content if they got £SOO a year and found, and »hey fre not an asset to any farmer. Taking things 50-50, farmers have had as hard a time as anyone; that is more than 50 per cent, of them, and these are the majority that employ men. <Of course you have different types of farmers. The average one treats you as he would like to be treated himself. There is nothing against him. Then there is the < nigger-driver who wants a lot for nothing, and who is in a position to pay a decent wage and flies round in his new highpowered car. Then there is the poor beggar with the big mortgage on his property who wants to pay good wages and cannot; and when he thinks he is going to get ahead of the monkey on the gate, along comes a storm, wipes out 50 per cent, of his lambs, and floods out his crops, or gets a dry summer, gets no rape or turnip crop; a nor’-wester comes and scatters his stocks to glory and shakes out the best half of his wheat. These are just a few of the things I have watched happen on the place that I am on at present. And doesn’t the boss wear a grin.? Yes, he gives his old head a shake and says: “Oh, well, better luck next season.” So the farm workers don’t have the worst by a long run. If there were no farms and the cookies'went on strike, what then? Still I am a farm worker myself and have been for donkeys’ years, and have worked for every sort of cocky under the sun. If« I am not satisfied I get out, and I think everyone who is not satisfied should do the same and try his luck elsewhere. I have tramped the roads for weeks on end in an effort, to get something that suited me. I am not out to argue the point, but am endeavouring to show each side of the position as it really is. Each type should be taken individually, not as a class. Give the Government time. It is dealing with chaps worse offthan ourselves—married men with families. We all want to get married, but. for the sake of our manhood don’t let us take this crusts of bread away from the kiddies. Trusting I have not taken up too much of your Space, and I do not want to start an argument, raging on this question, because every man has his grudge.—yours, etc., FAIR POP. October 2, 1936,