FARM LABOUR CONDITIONS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22755, 16 December 1935, Page 9

FARM LABOUR CONDITIONS

TO THE EDITOR.

Sib, —I would like to compliment "Maniototo Farm Hand” on his letter of the Bth. I think he is quite right. The farm labourer gets very little consideration, if any, and it is high time that some steps were taken by the Labour Government to improve the hours of working and to see that respectable accommodation is provided. Farm labourers are underpaid also. Even in the good times, as far back as 1926, the average pay was anything from £1 to 355, and that was when the farmer could well affard to pay him. Farm work (especially that on dairy farms) is very hard on clothes, and it takes all the labourers earn to buy them. The farmer is always “ squealing ” about the hard times, but why did he not improve the sleeping accommodation during that period? ■ Farmers are wondering just now why they cannot get labour. When they learn

to appreciate a good man when they have one there may be more willing to go and work for them. There are some exceptions, but the average farmer seems to forget that it is the man working for him that helps to make his living, for he does not treat him decently by paying him accordingly to the work and hours he does. Surely we are all human beings. I think that a farm workers’ union should be formed working on the same principle as the Freezing Workers’ Union and Hotel Employees’ Union, etc. The sooner the Arbitration Court is put into action again the better; we may be able to get something done. I think that the farm labourers have put up with too much in the past and that it is time they took a stand. — I am, etc., Speedy. December 13.