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Grey River Argus, Volume 57, Issue 10520, 27 August 1901, Page 4

A writer in the Timaru Post urges that there are neglected branches of ■labour for the betterment of which legislation is needed. He asked why Mr Seddon does not " pass a law to protect infant workers employed in the dairying industry," and say that " every pound of butter this colony produces is stamped with the overtaxed energies of boys and girls of tender years." He adds : — ' I wonder if the townspeople are awai*e what sleeping accommodation is provided for the unfortunate ploughmen as a rule. If they did, I am certain their sympathies would be with this unfortunate class of laborers. I have seen ploughmen in camps, huddled together in boxes put on wheels that are a disgrace to a civilised community. Talk about overcrowding and air space in our cities ! Why, sir, the worst of the back slums are comfortable and healthy compared with many a ploughman's quarters. It is seldom indeed that the ploughman in the back blocks has the luxury of a fire, or the ' facility afforded him of drying his wet clothes of an evening. Can we wonder that our young men crowd into our cities and towns in search of work V