DOMESTIC WORK ON FARMS

Press, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23349, 7 June 1941, Page 2

DOMESTIC WORK ON FARMS

CALL FOR EXPERIENCED HELPERS "Not only has the farmer to understand his calling, battle with the elements, be an accountant and an expert in filling departmental forms, he must also have a wife who is a fully qualified boarding-house keeper," said Mi R. C. Bishop in his presidential address to the conference of the North Canterbury branch of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union yesterday. "In no other calling does the employer have to board his employees and the women of the land are to be congratulated on the splendid effort they make when we realise that the work is not accomplished in 44 hours, or 48 or even much longer, and that all this is done' without help in the home. Many cases could be cited where there is sickness in the home, the woman bravely carrying on not only nursing, but still providing for the workers who try to wrest a living from the soil. Is it any wonder that rural life is unattractive to the young people and they drift to • the towns? Youth that has been trained to the calling is thus lost to our industry for ever “This is a national calamity, and till we can improve the lot of .the women of the country 'districts, we will be faced with this great problem. An important step in this direction could be taken by seeing that the farmers’ wives have sufficient experienced help to relieve them of some of the hardships and isolation that exists at present. “Though we know country women can never have the facilities of their town sisters their work could, with advantage, be lightened and made more attractive. Rural life, however, has some compensations that are denied other callings.”