FARM WORKERS' WAGES

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22346, 18 February 1936, Page 15

FARM WORKERS' WAGES

Sir, —1 cannot quite see what Mr. Vaile means when he compares my wages paid at 7d per hour to "Equality's" 2s. Is ho in favour of 2s per hour, or does he think my wage a fair thing? I am neither an ideal employer, nor have I an ideal farm in an ideal district, but I gave up farming two years ago, to take up organising work. The experience I quoted was obtained on one of the most remote and worst farms in New Zealand, and where we had to sledge our cream through a deep gorge for two miles to a clay road, and in some cases have had to pack our goods in and out, and never such good roads as in the Tatipo district. I have found that in a lot of the cases where farmers pleaded hardship, it was because they had too much land, and I suggest that if they were to quit all that the employer could not manage, without having his wife working, they would solve part of their problem. Why level all the criticism at the Government? Anyone can do this; I consider if we are capable it is our duty to assist them with any knowledge and experience we may have. I would greatly appreciate it, if Mr. Vaile would enlighten us as to what he considers a fair wage, etc, for rural and city workers, and his views as to some solution of the problem facing us at the present time. Cambridge. S. McCullough.