THE FARMERS' CASE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 20074, 11 October 1928, Page 14

THE FARMERS' CASE.

Sir, —I have read your leading article on the "Farmers' Case" in your issue of October 4. and should like to make a few comments. As regards the decrease in farm employees, Mr. Coates, in the last reference lie has made to tho matter, give.s a different; explanation to that given in the article. He states that the sudden increase in 1923 was due to tho land boom, suggesting that the subsequent decrease was duo to a sort of natural backwash, and that the net loss was only 2000. Whichever explanation is correct and whether the decrease was mainly in male or female persons, the fact remains that in spite of an apparent increaso in production and of labour-saving devices, prospects on the land are so unattractive that the country population is being depleted and that the proportion of country to town-dwellers is going down in still greater ratio. Tho increase in milking machines, etc., is merely a proof of the farmers' desire to lower costs and increaso efficiency. Farmers do not insti'l machinery before weighing all factors and will not do it unless they can see ft saving in the end. The machinery is genorallv paid for by instalments out of current returns. Similarly, figures of gross returns are not necessarily an indication of prosperity. As far as I have been able to observe, increases in production are at present merely a reflex of tho farmers' efforts to keep ahead of their costs and do not necessarily, mean tli.it fanning is profitable at all. On one most important point you do not touch, and that is the enormous amount of illpaid and unpaid toil involved in farm work. Farm hands are kept going for up to 80 hours a week and more, without one day's rest in seven, for months and years at a time The employment of farmers' wives and school children in the milking shed is considered quite a normal thing, whereas a similar state of things in other industries would be sternly frowned upon by the law. Both th°se matters urgently require attention by the Legislature. Judged by all reasonable standards of wages, hours and conditions, farming in general is only kept going by the gross overworking of farm hands, dependence on unpaid woman and chihl labour, and bv the obtaining of work and resources from outside. EL. A.