CHILDREN NOT WANTED.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 784, 6 April 1910, Page 4

CHILDREN NOT WANTED.

Sir,—ln: your, issue of March :28j V read with : interest the remarks of ths "Times" Sydney correspondent regarding ' the treatment of married couples by the ; squatters of Australia. • Unfortunatelyi • similar methods aire adopted ■by many.:.' of the large sheep-farmers. of this . minion. In proof of .this I would .refef, your many readers to the Situations Ya- '■_'■ cant column, when almost any day might bo read tho. following: "Wanted, married .. couple without encumbrance, etc." Aged', conples past child-bearing are'not advertised for, quite the contrary. I have, often wondered how- the sheep-farmer and his wife would like this' treatment, posing the tables could be turned. There . are certainly a,few "gentlemen" con-.'. nected with sheep-farming in this country who do not object to one or even, two children, but it is the exception, hot '' the rale. And yet it 'suits the sheepfarmer to employ a married couple, l Why? First of all i.fs choap labour. Look: - at the.duties in many instances expected of the unfortunate wife:—Cooking for six to a dozen persons, baking bread,, buttermaking, cleaning, and last.but not.least, - washing . and ironing. ■. There is any- distinction, .from a Sunday to, any " other -day. of 'the week's . work, ; :..and;'. : this woman is denied the companionship''-• of her child.- No, sir,,yon don't need to go to Australia .for examples:.of the.': treatment of married couples by the,-;, squatters, they are ;here—any amount of ' them. And I suppose these same sheep- ' farmers..;'and' squatters, if it troubles .'.'■ •them at all, deplore tho decreasing birth*.' rate. Bah!—l am, etc., ...'■■■•."'' ;•:.' ' VICTIM,; ■?'- i ;