Farmers and Labor.

Cromwell Argus, Volume XLIII, Issue 2285, 19 February 1912, Page 6

Farmers and Labor.

A well-known Southland farnjur recently stated to a " Southland Times" reporter that he intended giving up cropping on account of the worry and anxiety that was associated with the working of teaius. A four horse team cost £BOO per year to woik, that is taking into account the. necessary labour and the feed consumed. " The labour problem, ton, was a serious one, and it was becoming more and mnra diflhutit each year to obtiin mutable nuu. Li- pud bis men oOs per week, provided th-m with, accommodation, and did not, ch ■■■> duct an> thing for holidays which he by no means begrudged the men. lie also -allowed each of them to keep a hack, and he never charg d thorn a penny for feed, Despite all thi-i lie found the position becoming intol. rab!e, and be hud to be constantly endeavoring lo smooth over friction and difficulties created by the men themselves. Most farm implements have a seat now attached to them, but if a man is working an implement without a seat for a day longer than he think:- be has a right to, there is trouble, and the employer is blamed for favouring one man at the expeu.se of the other fellow. Similar bother frequently arose over the allotting of teams One man will complain that he is not being given as good a team as the others, and if steps arc not immediately taken to pacify the aggrieved one, the chances are that he will at once take his hook and leave his employer in the lurch. Alto gether, the farmer spoken to was not enamoured of the position, and as soon as he conveniently could, he said, he would transfer his attention to sheep.