THE FARM WORKER

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22392, 13 April 1936, Page 12

THE FARM WORKER

Sir, —For some time past I have read with interest letters published in your papers re farm hands. I feel that I must say it is about time something was done to improve the living conditions of employees. A working person is flesh and blood as much as his employer, so why not treat him as an equal, instead of giving any old place to rest in after a hard day s work, perhaps a sack of chaff for a mattress, no pillow and no bathroom for him to wash in, just dish, or the creek, while his employer has every comfort. If the employee asks for better conditions his employer cries "hard up." but still he can afford to run a car to town nearly every day and belong to some golf or tennis club. Why not go without some of the luxuries he indulges in and pay a better wage to the worker, instead or expecting him to work 16 hours a day for a wage of about £2 per week, and keep himself, his wife and family decently clothed and fed without grumbling about the hardships which they endure? Of course, there are exceptions, but not many. I think the Govern- , ment should send an inspector to inspect the living conditions of every farm hand ih the Dominion. I wonder how many houses would be condemned. Farm Hand's Wife.