SLAVES OF THE FARM?

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1197, 4 August 1911, Page 8

SLAVES OF THE FARM?

At the Dairy Farmers' 1 Conference in Sydney recently the question of child labour was vigorously discussed. One delegate derided the notion that d.iiry farmers' children suffered through having to assist their parents. He had two sons, who had assisted him from an early nge, and largely helped him to clear his two hnnrlred acres in the "Big Scrub." One was now twenty-one years of age, ho weighed 12-it. 1211). and was 6ft. 2in. high -slaughter)—and was well educated. Tho other boy was nineteen years old and 12st. 21b. in weight. Although they had no school to attead to in their early day?, they had their certificates from tho public school qualifying them to leave when twelve years old. Another farmer claimed a son 6ft. 2in. high, and another raid he was the father of eight children, six of whom were boys, and ia brin°in" them up "I took out of them all that \ as P,? 8 ? 1 " I ''' and that has made men of them. (Laughter and applause.)