THE FARMER'S WIFE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19459, 15 October 1926, Page 8

THE FARMER'S WIFE.

Sir, —In recent issues of the Hebald there has been a controversy as to whether women should contiuue teaching at school after they become married. There may be argument in favour of it, but I contend the principle is altogether wrong. While the subject is fresh in the minds of your many readers, I would like to bring under their notice married women in another walk of "life. I refer to the hundreds (if not thousands) of farmers' wives. A great number of these brave women work from daylight until dark, under very adverse conditions in most cases, so that their husbands can do wit'iout hired help and the wages saved goes to pay interest to the mortgagees, who in many cases live in ignorance o c the great privations necessary that they may receive their income. Farmers' wives have been always looked upon as unpaid farm labourers, but why should they be ? Does a carpenter take his wife and children along with him to help bnild a house, so that he can work at a cheaper rate, or does a Business man, who really is dependent on the farmer, allow his wife to work in his office ? No, of course they don't, and yet everyone expects the farmer's wife to toil 365 days of the year and receive very little besides her three meals a day. Trade unions demand a living wage for their memfciers, and if they consider a rise in wages is accessary the demand goes before an Arbitration Court for decision. The . Farmers' Union is certainly formed, but so far the rights of ■ farmers' wives > have not been brought under notice. One reads of resolutions bringing under the notico of the Government the alarming growth of blackberry or rabbits, but never a resolution to place before the Government the fact that inflated farm values, together with low prices of stock and produce, cauiie thousands of women and children to work long hours without pay, in order tha.t interest and land-tax be paid. The time is ripe for the brave farmers' wives to get- the sympathy. of everyone. The price* of butter is down below cost price, and if it falls , still further it will mean thousands of farmers will be once more on their "beam ends" and the consequent dismissal of the farm labourer and the piling of more work on to the farmer's wife and family. When the cost of living advances, the trade union member applies for an increase in wages and generally gets it. When the price of farm produce declines should not farmer be met with a similar concession ? Hap anyone yet heard of the rate of interest being reduced during hard times ? I know a great number of mortgagees have reduced their "paper increases," but a larger number have not, and this means extra- work for the farmer, his wife and family. Should the farmers organise and stan-l together they could demand anything within reason, and the thought of a- farmer's, strike would bring disaster to the whole country. In a like manner a strike of "farmers' wives" would be a justified proceeding, and I am sure it would bring under notice that 90 per cent, of the farms are working under sweated conditions by the wife and family, A Cookie's Unpaid Helper.