THE ENGLISH SHEPHERD

New Zealand Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 6315, 16 September 1907, Page 3

THE ENGLISH SHEPHERD

HIS TREK POSITION. There is a common conception in this country that the English shepherd is a ivory poorly-paid v,usher. Certainly ho I lias to work longer hours than his New Zealand confrere, but, as a matter of fact, his payment compares very favI ourably with the rate ruling bore. The position of the English shepherd was explained to the writer I by a man who was brought up cn an ! English sheep farm and who came out on tho Corinthic under engagement to Mr E. Short, of Foildiug. Tho shepherd on a good farm at Home, a man who knows his work, ho states, will get 18s a week, including a free house, of from six to eight rooms, with a good garden attached, also free firing and sometimes free milk. Allowances are also made for extra work at lambing, shearing, and harvesting, which brings the .total wages to about 22s a week. Ho will receive 3d to fid a lamb, £1 a hundred for shearing, and generally ,£3 for harvesting. The ordinary shepherd would receive 16s a week and' allowances. The hours of work are long, especially in the bu.sy seasons. For instance, nt stealing time he would commence at 4 a.ra. and would not bo finished till perhaps 8 p.m. His average hours during the slacker seasons would be from 6.30 a.m. to 5.30 p.m.