THE DAIRYFARMER’S LOT

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 79, 18 April 1944, Page 3

THE DAIRYFARMER’S LOT

I To the Editorl Sir, —I read your leading article about farmers and you are wrong in thinking they are satisfied with the increased price, but they quite realise, after years of a Labour Government, that it is useless to express an opinion or ask for any rights due to them, as it is always twisted about and misunderstood by most of the community, so they just take it all until peace is declared and carry on producing for the English people and the army as their large share in the war effort. The production of butter would not have declined to such an extent had the dairyfarmer been treated fairly. A large number of herds have been disposed of for this reason and other farmers, etc., who, before, milked a few cows, now have one, or buy their milk, as they like a week-end off occasionally —the same as the wage-earner does. The poor dairyfarmer never has a week-end or even a whole day off. Sunday and Monday are all the same to him. It doesn’t matter how ill he may feel at times; the cows still have to be milked and fed. I see the employee is to get £4 17s 6d a week and the owner £5 7s 6d. Well —think this over. The owner supplies the farm and the herd, stands all the losses, finances the plant and all the equipment and works seven days a week and gets 10s more than the employee, who gets his time off, a house and no expenses to pay on the farm. Would you say we are satisfied? The £ 1 subsidy on calves will only help the big dairyfarmer as the one with 20 cows or under only rears about five calves, as he has nowhere to run them when weaned; also it costs £’l or more to rear a calf as it drinks new milk for several weeks and then wants calf meal, as improperly fed stock will never produce. If everyone who had some land milked three or four more cows it would add considerably to the amount of butter for overseas but, at the present rates, they won’t do it. It has to be worth while and they wouldn’t be subsidised for their calves. What of dairylarmers’ wives? Most of them help in the shed besides doing their household duties and those who don’t milk still have the long hours for meals, etc., so cannot take up sport or anything else for relaxation. When they go to town they have to rush home. Don’t you think it worth more with others getting a good salary for much shorter hours and their wives and families, not expected to work with them? Britain will get her butter as far as it lies in our power and we feel we are doing something worthwhile in life while helping to feed those less fortunate than ourselves, so carry on dairyfarmer and let them think as they Wlll - —I am, etc., MERELY A DAIRYFARMERS’ WIFE. Brightwater, 13th April.