Dairy Farmers and Labour

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 72, 18 December 1935, Page 13

Dairy Farmers and Labour

Sir, —While admitting the case as eel out by many of your correspondents regarding the conditions and wages of farm labourers, I wish to join issue with "Equity” concerning the economics of the case, especially the statement about improved prices. He has used that before, 1 do not know where "Equity” gets his information about dairy farmers from, but it is often sadly in error. The bulk of dairy farmers are on less than 100 acres, and the policy and trend has for years been to subdivide to about 60 acres. Will "Equity” please get the following information correct from some authoritative source, say Mr. T. C. Brash, the secretary of the Dairy Board: (1) Number of dairy farmers on less than 100 acres; (2) Price paid per pound butterfat for, say, last five or six years; (3) Nett increase, if any, for this year, showing decline in butterfat production through weather conditions; (4) Gross takings for, say, a 60 or 70 acre farm. After "Equity” has this information, will he please set out what he considers a "fair statement of what farm wages should be.” And if “Equity” is really of the opinion that "this industry is vital to the welfare of the Dominion,what "arrangements” would he suggest in the proposed “organisation of the industry.” As "Equity” seems concerned about the "near slavery,” will he get some reliable information from, say, the W.D.F.U. regarding the women and child slavery that exists on dairy farms, and contrast it with any other industry? One can understand the sweeping statements made by the average newspaper correspondent, but from a student of economies like “Equity” one expects something more constructive. —I am, etc., RATIONAL. Dalefield, December 1-1.