Farm Workers

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29339, 19 October 1960, Page 11

Farm Workers

Sir,—No good purpose to served when "Do As You Would Be Done By” applies the word parasite to farm workers. In discussing relations between employers and employees. It to well to work on the assumption that there are good and bad in all sections of the community. Your correspondent’s mention of percentages should give much food for thought to those fanners who are having difficulty in keeping their workers. Between the two world wars the industrial expansion In Britain raised a serious farm labour problem, which was solved, for many farmers, by a profit-sharing system of employment I believe, however, that the housing expansion here is accelerating the drift to the towns. But the farmers, as.-a class, should be the last to complain when a man buys a home on a small deposit—Yours, etc, D. ROBERTSON. Rakaia, October 17, 1960. Sir,—“Do As You Would Be Done By” to obviously a farmer employer, and by the way he re- . wards his employees, certainly ' deserves more consideration from ■ them. Unfortunately the big majority of .farmers do not treat I their employees so welt My . husband and myself have been working almost 20 years as a married shepherd couple, and have worked honestly and faith- , fully and hold excellent refer- , ences, but have never been ' treated as well as this farmer treats his employees. It is certainly time that a farm workers’ union was formed, which, I am sure, would be of benefit to the farm workers as well as to the ■ farmers.—Yours, etc., > ACTION, PLEASE. 1 October 17, 1960. i i Sir,—Perhaps “Do As You > Would Be Done By” would care ■ to employ me. At present I re- ‘ ceive about £l2 10s, tax free, a : week (code Ml), free firewood, ■ and pay for my meat, milk, cream i (no telephone). During hay- > making I willingly work till 9 t p.m., other seasons often till 7 i p.m. Wet-weather jobs are ) always available, as any employer should know. In the last four years I have taken four weeks’ t paid holiday. The writer must ) surely be a poor judge of charl acter. After all, he is the one ; who is given the final choice of t employee. Perhaps he ought to ■ try working a large farm on his , own. Maybe he would then realise the value of a good worker. In spite of four years’ hard work . I am no nearer to owning a farm than when I moved into the I country, through the lack of overtime.—Yours, etc., ’ EARLY START TOMORROW. ’ October 17. 1960. ! Sir, —I wonder if “Do As You • Would Be Done By” bought his ■ farm with the fruits of his own I labour, or did he have family or : “rehab” assistance? Certainly i the cottage should be maintained : by those living in it, but to those who love the country, it is natural to tend house and gar-

den, if left enough free time over the week-end. I am not writing for those parasites who move from job to job bemoaning their lot. I am only concerned with those willing labourers that the country needs, and there are plenty of them. Farmers who cannot keep farmhands should ask themselves a few questions. ' “Do I treat them as neighbours? Do I interfere with their free time? Is the house comfortable, sheltered and well drained? Will the job interest them?” Workers do not expect thousands—just enough to live happily, a thoughtful boss, and a good home.— Yours, etc., COUNTRY GIRL. October 18, 1960. [This correspondence may now cease.—Ed., “The Press.”] In 1957 there were about 2,217,000 civilians employed by the United States Government, 2,190,200 were employed in the executive branch, 22,100 in the legislative branch and 4600 in the judicial branch.

South Crescent Road Sir, —The footpaths in South Crescent road have been repaired, not before time, but in front of four properties a space of approximately 18 inches from the fences has been left unfilled, leaving a nasty hollow. As ratepayers, we do not know if the council intends to fill this space with soil or rubble, but in its present state it is dangerous. Many old folk live in this locality who have the habit of walking along the street using the fences as a handrail. We have a light in this area which for some reason or another seems to be off more than it is on. If some old person in the dark hurts himself is the council responsible and win it pay damages?—Yours, etc., July 31, 1960. RATEPAYER. [The Acting Town Clerk (Mr C. S. Bowie) said it was necessary to raise the back of the path to provide drainage to the sidechannels. This temporarily left the drop to the back which was being filled as required for safety. If, at any time, the street light was out a ring to the Municipal Electricity Department