THE NEW ZEALAND FARM LABOURER.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 204, 22 May 1908, Page 3

THE NEW ZEALAND FARM LABOURER.

IS HE WELL QITF? "The Pastoralists' Review" answers this question in the.affirmative.- It says:—' ' "Tho inquiries 'which-have recently been conducted by tho New Zealand Conciliation Board-in connection with the claims of various labour unions for increased wages and othor concessions show how remarkably well off the rural- worker of that Dominion really is. Indeed,' if tho evidence given at these inquiries by genuine workers (vera published in the United Kingdom, or in othor countries, it would cause an influx of agricultural labourers which would speedily solve tho labour difficulty, in New Zealand. Throughout the inquiries the evidence of the genuine workers, whether, general agricultural labourers,' shepherds, or dairy hands, and also of men now prosperous farmers who have risen from the ranks of the labourers, shows that the good man receives from the employer ,a rate of wages which will enable him in a few years to take up land or embark in business for himself, and in turn employ labour. The workers fully appreciate their advantages, for the reports are searched in vain for evidenco of dissatisfaction with their lot; on the contrary, the 'disputes' (as they are legally termed) appear to have been fomented by outside individuals, and the unions comprise a very email proportion of the men engaged in tho several industries. The baseless nature of gome of the claims is shown by decisions having been given practically against the claimants in cases in which the employers have not appeared."