THE ACUTE FARM PROBLEM

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22300, 24 December 1935, Page 15

THE ACUTE FARM PROBLEM

Sir, —May I be permitted to present an aspect of this question that to have escaped most of your correspondents, who have been vigorously bemoaning the situation? First, to deal with tho single-track-minded views expressed by "Fed-Up," I am waiting for some reliable evidence (such as has not hitherto been given) that the available farm jobs in New Zealand could absorb every unit of the forty or fifthy thousand men whose nameß are on the unemployment register; to say nothing of the thousands of eligible youngsters who are growing up. Just why this chronic position in regard to shorthandedness on farms has made itself so manifest this particular season, I don't profess to know. I don't believe it to bo due solely to the establishment of relief camps, where the pay is 40 per cent lower than the average competent farm hand now gets, even though, admittedly, they "have a better time and shorter hours," and for this very reason. Ten to 15 years ago, able and willing men cpuld get up to 18s per day for navwying on hydro-electric schemes, road work, bush track work and such jobs, and no howl was heard about the scarcity of farm workers 1 In the relief camp to which tho writer is at present attached the work consists of deepening a 16ft. wide swam]) drain, filled with tho deeply-embedded roots of trees, and this draining is supposed to bo beneficial to farm lands. 1 would like to meet a man who could stand such work for the 12 or 14 hours worked on farms. When I registered, eight months ago, there was nothing doing anywhere, as I know from personal and costly experience of written application foxwork of any description. Since then I have been abused in writing by some farm hand for tho crime of not being on a farm "to save tho women and children." Now that local haymaking is in progress, I and seven others have worked a couple of days lor two or three farmers, and we aro officially informed that we will bo charged Is (3d per day for timo worked outside the camp, to cover meals whether wo have them or not; also that if we are absent for more than three days wo loso our bonus. Tho sacrifice was too great so we stopped. 1 strongly object to the ignorant, but apparently popular, assumption that men on relief works are "Just marking time." Each case must bo judged on its merits. "FodTJp" says it is common knowledge that lands are reverting to gorse and blackberry. Why, they have always been in gorso and blackberry in large areas over since I can remember. If "Fed Up's" desire to see all relief camps closed to single men could be amended to "single men under 30" it would not only show broader vision, but might help to solve the problem. Aka Aka. Kolmar.