FARM LABOUR

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22724, 10 May 1937, Page 12

FARM LABOUR

Sir, —Farmers enjoy such natural advantages in Now Zealand that even when their costs are increased by protective duties thev can hold their own in the world's markets. Manufacturers are under such disadvantages in New Zealand that only with the aid of protection can they hold their own even in our own markets. Thus the policy of giving farmers and manufacturers equal Government aid is radically tinsound, besides being financially impracticable. But just as nothing can be said for equal treatment of fanners and manufacturers, .because they occupy radically different positions, so nothing can be said for unequal treatment of farm and urban labour. Ihe position of the farm labourer is, in fact, not only a public scandal, but a menace to the future of the Dominion. The Dominion depends on farming and farming depends on labour. This labour ought "to be of the best quality, it ought to be satisfied, and every farm labourer, having practically no chance of promotion as an employee, ought to have a reasonable chance of working himself into independence. It cannot be pretended that these conditions now exist, and it must be repeated that the present position is_a menace and a disgrace. To grant farmers the same measure of State aid as is given to manufacturers would involve the country in impossible costs, but the cost of placing farm workers on equality with the employees of our protected industries would be comparatively insignificant. Our farm employees number about 00.000 and thus £2.500,000 would be sufficient to add one pound a week to the ages of every man and' woman employed on farms. State aid has enriched urban industries and urban employees at the expense of farmers and farm employees. "Why, then, should we not right a great wrong by placing such a tax on urban industries, and urban employees, as would provide us with this £-,000.000. Manurewa. J- Johxstoxz.