FARM LABOUR CONDITIONS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22779, 15 January 1936, Page 4

FARM LABOUR CONDITIONS

TO THE EDITOR g lßj —i would crave a small space to express my opinion regarding the great shortage of farm labour in the face of high rates of wages (according to the agricultural leader in your columns, “ ranging from 10s, lls and in many cases even more per day.” Also, according to this article, urgent official and semi-official representations are being made to the Prime Minister. Again, the executive of the Farmers’ Union is advocating another spasm of importation of cheap labour. Now, Sir, practically every issue of your paper lately has conone or more letters bearing on this subject, and so as to get right down to the kernel of the nut I have gone to the trouble to cut out the farm posP tions advertised in your "wanted’ columns for the past month, and in barely 1 per cent of the positions advertised was mention made of the wages, and in those cases where wages were mentioned the highest was 25s per week, while m a lot of cases the applicant had to mention the wages he expected. Of course the lowest tender might not have been accepted, and if it was the farmer might have raised it to lls or more per day without being asked, and again he may not. Now, Sir, I challenge your agriculturist leader writer or any member of the Farmers Union (this does not include members of the Women’s Division, as 80 per cent, of them are neither the wives of farmers nor in any way connected with farming) to advertise for a man stating the wages at anything from

10$ and over per day and allow you to advertise the number of applicants you receive in 24 hours. Finally, I may say that in quite a number, if not a majority, of the advertisements for married couples no tangible evidence of their married state will be allowed through the slipraiis. For the benefit of many of your correspondents on this subject I may mention that negotiations are under way to form a Farm Workers’ Union. —I am, etc., L. Taylor-Cameron. Alexandra. TO THE EDITOR Sir, —Having read in your columns with pleasure, and also displeasure, some of the letters that have appeared on farm labour conditions, I have noticed one by “ Generous,” who was apparently displeased with some truths in the letters ot “ Old Hand ” and “ Parmer.” Perhaps “Generous” has not had the pleasure of “ piling up the dollars,” as he apparently thinks farmers are doing at the expense of their farm hands. Has he read the index figures of the cost ot production and the net price received for farm produce? Perhaps they would displease him, too. Does he know the average life of a horse, sheep, or cow used in the production of the farmer’s “wealth”? Does he know the average replacements of sheep every year? Docs he know the average cost of fencing and the life of a fence? I'm afraid not. Does he know the charges made for machinery, for repairs, for commission on stock sold, and also the charges on a bale of wool from the shearing till the net price is returned less shearing, baling, carting, binning, classing, selling, etc.? The ‘ big cheques of the farmer are cut fairly well before he receives them, if he is in a position to call them his own. If he cannot receive them he may have some cause for “ squealing.” A “ truei ” farm worker receives very fair wages. If on by the week he receives his board, fair weather or foul. He may be off work for several days through wet weather or sickness. He is paid and boarded by the usual run of farmers if sick. I will admit there are a few who would not pay their men if sick, butthey are few and far between. If he is on as a permanent hand a farm worker does not average 80 hours per week. Wet days and days such as Christmas would pull this average down. In rough weather the farm worker is not asked to get up at 5 a.m. and feed his team, and his average in the winter would be much lower. If not on team work very few farm workers average more than eight hours in the summer, and certainly do not average it in the winter. This is without cows the working hours on a dairy farm lam not in a position to speak on. As for food and a “roof" to cover him (he mainly gets four walls and a roof, a chair, and a bar of soap chucked in) being worth only 15s, perhaps the present Government will decide what it is worth. The food is what the farmer eats, taken off the same table. I can speak from experience, and have found this true. The “ rebates and concessions ” received by the average farmer mainly come out of the farmer’s pocket in the first place. As the majority of the town people who are directly or indirectly dependent on selling wool, grain, machinery, stores, and stock of all descriptions feel the pinch when the farmer’s prices come down, they are glad to see the prices of farm products rise. I’m afraid "Generous” contradicts himself when he says “ it is only the thought of the help they will receive when prosperity returns that has kept them doing their job cheerfully.” It looks as if the town people depend on the farmer after all. Perhaps “Generous” will be “displeased ”at this letter also. Anyway, in this, as in everything else, it should be the survival of the fittest. —I am, etc., Cockatoo,