Conditions on Sheep Stations

Dominion, Volume 30, Issue 10, 7 October 1936, Page 16

Conditions on Sheep Stations

Sir, —“Shepherd” wants to know the wages I paid. Well, I paid 10/- a day plus food and single room accommodation. I had an inexperienced lad who said he was a teamster, and a mess he made of things! Then I engaged a man off the road, but two days settled him. Previous to those two I had a man on all winter at 10/- a day—and wasn’t he tired! I hare spent 50 years in New Zealand and have been among sheep all that time, but I cannot understand why “Shepherd” is kicking; he must have known what the job stood for before he started. I venture to suggest that had he tackled the high country in the south, where he would not need a horse and Sunday never came, he would have reason to kick. If he is so badly treated, why does he not quit the sheep for public works? Why not sell his labour in the dearest market?

Whether farmers are fit to employ labour is too vague a question to warrant an answer. The other side of the question is that many men only work when the boss is about. No amount of argument can alter the fact that while almost every other employer of labour can pass on added costs,, the farmer cannot.

As far as I am concerned, this is the finish. I don’t think unemployment can be solved by making costs excessive and destroying goodwill. There are many square men in round holes, and for them there is nothing but failure ahead. —I am, etc..

G. E. MERRIKIN. Waipukurau, October 5. [This correspondence is closed.]