COUNTRY LETTERS

Maoriland Worker, Volume 6, Issue 244, 20 October 1915, Page 8

COUNTRY LETTERS

President A. J. King writee from Timaru (6.10.16):— Dear Editor, —I have to congratulate you on the first appearance of the Country Workers' Page. You have made a good beginning, and I know that tho pago is in good hands. Of course, for a little whilo you will have v, difficulty iv digging up matter, but if all those thnt are interested in tho A.P.TJ. shako themselves up and help you, after a vory short time your chief

difficulty will bo in ?elocting whab tr> put in and what to leavo out. I shall send along » few lines occasionally. T feel suro that our page i 9 going to make a big difference in the circulatiou' of tho paper.' All the country workers will soon bo looking eagerly forward every week for their paper, and will be interested hot only in their own page but in tho wholo of tho paper. i'oUrs fraternally, A. J. KINO. * * * A member writes from Henty Station (N.S.W.), 1.9.15:— "We are luiving a fair season here. Shearers are on the scarce side, and from a harvest point of view it will be a record." * * * G. McGrail writes from Eastown, Wanganui, (3.10.15):— "Herewith a few lines to let you know that 1 have enlisted for the front, and will be going into camp on the 19th, so that it will be no use sending mo any tickets as 1 will not be here tv do anything this season. The price here has opened at 225. Gd. 6. J' , . Moore is voluntarily giving that and also Dalton Bros., so in all iikelihood it will be a general thing. Mr. Moore volunteered the rise and the other owner followed suit. Dalton Bros. have done ti ,few dry sheep, and G. F. Mooro start's on October 4th, then Dalton do .'their ewes, and Faparangi follows, and Moore starts his ewes about the Ist December, so about the end of the month shearing will be in full swing down this end. 4 ■!«• * Mr. Adair writes from Fairlight Station (3.10.15):— "I see by "The Maoriland Worker" that I voted against the increase in price of tickets. I wish to contradict that statement, as I havo long since been an advocate for £1 tickets, and I was one of two that voted for the price of tickets to be a pound, out of 16 votes at this shed last shearing. "Greenvalo Station has'just changed hands from McCaughan Brothers to Matlueson from Middlemarch, but the forthcoming shearing will be run the same as other years. Greenvale starts about 10th December, Fairlight to follow. a 4fr * . Mr. B. Lawton writes to secretary from San Francisco, under date 14 Sept. :— "Dear Friend and Comrade,—l was real pleased to receive your welcome letter and to hear you were better in health. I myself am just recovering from pleurisy and also malaria fever. I am just catching this mail, so will writo late. Perhaps ere this Arthur MuCuok is in N.Z. He wrote mc from New York and was leaving for England and then N.Z. If you sco him tell him to writo to mc. Many thaiika for circulars. I will write later. Hope you and yours aro well. BERT LAWTON. * * * Mr. Lloyd Jones writes to secretary (August 22) from Hospital Ship:— Just a line. Trusting that everything is going along well with you. t am on my way back from the front; p, lump of lead jnst above the knee. Ought to be all right by the time you get this. It is pretty hot out there. A lot of the lads gone under. How things are getting along in other parts I don't know, but we are pushing along here. Have met none of the mob here. All being well, I trust to be back in a few months. Best wishes for a good season. * * * Mr. Towhsend reports , that Te Kaarmu Station started shearing on October 4; full board, seven shearers; losing time through wet weather. * « * Mr. Tom Cartwright, shed rep. at Terawlriti, reports under date 9/10/15 to, the secretary:— We started here on October 5 at 5.30 a.m., and have got in two days and a half. It is raining here at present, and'looks as if it Qias set in for a good downpour. The chaps here wish to know what arrangements you have made for clearances from other unions into the A.P.U. Please send report of Conference and .rules. Some members complain that the shears you gave them were very rusty. * * * Tho Secretary writes: — "I have attended a number of conferencos, but I think I can safely say I have been more pleased with this one than with any I have previously attended. J. think that it will be the means of laying the foundation of the most solid organisation in this country. "Wo aro out on exactly the same lines as the A.W.TJ., that is, so far a 9 the Arbitration Act in this country will allow. During the conference, "there was come hard hitting on account of the fact that around tho table werepersons of various schools of thought. However, on every subject dealt with I can safely say that we arrived at almost unanimous decisions. "The conference will cost a fair amount, but if we succeed in building up such an organisation as we expect, then tho money will be well spent. The nominations for president and organisers (of whom two will be permanent and five appointed casual, as you know, for the busy seuson) close on tho 20th September, and there will also be a poll taken for the secretaryship, for which position I may say I am not standing.

I am receiving letters every day from members seeking good runs on the shearing and past experience leads' mo to believe that tho best way to cater for tho members is to give full information tfith regard to the sheds and shearing and leave them to themselves to securo their stands. By filling six stands I find a man makes si* hundred enemies, and the fellows who do not securo a good run after making applications, vtyy Often accuso the secretary of favouritism. "The price of tickets being raised to £1 will for a time causo some members' to stand back, but when they realise the benefits gained from the combination, I have no doubt that they will joiu in with their mates." * * * Mrs. S.B. writes: This is a true account, of a conversation 1 had with a little chup whilst waiting for a train. Is ib not pitiful to think whilst wo are sleeping, the .poor kiddies are being exploited to make profits for greedy capitalists tuid employers? It is to be hoped the A.P.U. will soon make itself felt an;l check this employment of child labour for farm work, thdfe is a great future before it.

"Have you lost a waterproof ?" I was sitting on a seat at the arilwa-y station waiting for the last train home, passing the time away reading Blatckford's "Sorcery Shop," when a piping voice broke my interest with the above question. "Nol" I. answered, and turned to see who was my questioner. Hβ was a bright-looking little chap of about 11 years, and seemed anxious to talk, co I closed my book aiid propared to listen. "I've had a- real good day out to-day," he informed mc next. "It's the first day I've had off for about two months, and my bo9s gave mo 6s. to spend. I only sf>ehfc 6d. or it' though; I gave mother the- other. Mother gets all my earnings; but there, you see," he added, "sho has to buy my boots and clothes, so there's notmuch left." "What work do you do?" I asked. "Oh! I work on Mr. 's farm, lie's teaching mc to milk. 1 started to learn once before, but 1 sprained my wrist doing somo work »n the sheds, so I had to knock off; but my wrist is alright now, so I am going to try again. 1 get nine bob a week and my tucker, so I'm alright, ain't 1?" "What time- do you start work,' , I asked next. "Well," he said, "I gefc up at 3 o'clock and walk down to the farm and get thero just before 4 o'clock, and work till 8 o'clock; then I hate breakfast and go on to school, and I go back after school is over and do some more."

"What time do you leave off work?" I asked. "Oh," he said, "I generally get done about 8 o'clock, and I go homo then aud havo my ten and go straight to bed; as you fee, I get up early, so 1 need plenty of re£t. I work at the farm all day Saturday and Sunday. I've got a good job, ain't I? I'm alright. I've been at this job twelve months, and the boss says if I stay another six months he will give mc a pony and saddle for myself. That will be fine. It won't cost mc anything, except I shall havo to feed it myself, you know. A little while ago the boss was ill and I did tie milk-round for him. I got up early and drove into town with the milk and served the customers." I gasped! "Were you allowed to do this?" "Oh yes," he eaid, "You see the boss has no one else to do it, and he was bad; so I just took it on for a fortnight." "Do you like farm work?" I queried. "Well," he said, "it's not bad when you get used to it. You see, I'm notstrong, and the doctor ordered mc outdoor work, so I thought this would be best." Just then the train steamed into the station, and I took my seat- wondering how long it was going to be-possible to exploit child labour in this young country which is so often called the "Children's Paradise."