SHORTAGE OF FARM LABOUR

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22197, 26 August 1935, Page 15

SHORTAGE OF FARM LABOUR

Sir, —It is just about time the camps of unemployed men came to an end, and then some of the farmers might get some help. At present we have to turn out our cows with their calves, as we cannot get labour. It is just about time the Government was awake to facts. Pioneer. Sir, —I have been a farmer's wife for 15 years. I came straight from a big city firm to a farm, and I am convinced that the farm hand has a better and easier life than the town employee. They certainly start milking early, mostly 5.30 a.m., do very little between milkings, and are having tea before 7 p.m. On wet days tliey lie on their bed and read, or listen-in to the wireless. How many town employees do this? Get a day off when they particularly want it, as well as all the public holidays, and Saturday afternoon and Sunday off between milkings, and are taken out in the car with the employers if there is not anything particular to do that day. A little mud and hard work occasionally never hurts anyone. Of course, there are hard employers in both town and country, but these are in the minority. Fair Plat.

Sir, —He the letters of "A Homie Who Tried" on the subject of shortage of farm labour, I would like to ask him if he knows that a large percentage of single men in unemployment camps are Homies like himself. Farm labouring done properly is hard work, and many of those single men are physically unfit for the life. In my opinion the main reason why men prefer camps to farm life is because farm wages are so low in proportion to the amount of work to be done. Not, as your correspondent states, because men are afraid to a bit of hard work. There is no reason why "Homie" should rush into print and criticise those who in the mqin are his superiors. Enzed.