HOUSING ON FARMS

Evening Post, Volume CVI, Issue 28, 2 August 1923, Page 2

HOUSING ON FARMS

CONDITIONS OF WORKERS

STEPS BY FARMERS' UNION

Before proceeding' with the ordinary business of the New Zealand Farmers' Union Conference to-day, the president, Mr. W. J. Poison, moved:—"This conference instructs the Dominion Executive to investigate the recent Advances legislation in regard to housing, with a view to the provision of move homes for country workers, and also to communicate with the provinces in order to obtain recommendations for improving the conditions of farm workers, and providing them with a workable plan for annual and other holidays." • In moving the- motion, Mr. Poison remarked that the New Zealand farmers liad in their farm workers a very loyal set of men. He wanted to see—and he was sure all farmers wanted to see—that the very best housing conditions were provided for the workers on the farms, bomethmg should be done now with respect to the better housin 3 conditions of tne- tarm workers, and, in view of the more liberal legislation which had recentJy been_ passed, i twas felt that assistance might be obtained in that direction if necessary. Many of the farm workers had to put up with conditions which they ought not to have to submitto Most of the members of the conference already gave their workers a regular annual holiday, of, say, a "fortnight, la order to compensate them for the additional work done by them during the busy season. Steps should be taken to sea that regular holidays were "jven "f> f, 0I? le farmers, but "by all farmers: It should be the business of the Farmers' Union to see that their own house was put in order, so that no stone could be cast at them; consequently, the executive wanted the provinces to investigate, and report where improvements could be made in the conditions of our farm workers. This was a- very important question was a matter which hud exercised his mind for' a long time They would need the sympathy and.supi port of the farm workers all over the ™™Z* llEy W6r<? soillS t0 ™& much

The further consideration of the ernes&s&£*"* ™ a later P«& p£ „At, V"j>s «l<Jent stage Messrs. G- L ett % -P \r C;Y S°n (Wel«ngton); bL aubfect It (AtJ :kl?»d) »Pok« on the suhject^all generally w support of the motion moved by the president, which was agreed to unanimously