A Half-Holiday For the Farmers and tHeir Servants

Southland Times, Issue 18059, 31 January 1903, Page 2 (Supplement)

A Half-Holiday For the Farmers and tHeir Servants

The following paper, read by Mr Jas, Watson at a meeting of the Heddon Bush branch of tho Farmers' Union, was handed to us for publication at ' the request of a number of the members :'—

It is now over firteen years since I first introduced this subject. I was only a new chum then, and a farm servant at that. At that time a wave of do. pression was passing over this fair land and many farmers could almost have dono with an extra half-day, nstead ol taking tho half-day away, to make thoir farms pay, so the matter lapsed for want of support. A few days ago I had occasion to call into a Btnall blacksmith's shop at 11 o'clock on a Saturday to get a horse shod. "Not sure if I can do it," was the reply from the boss. However, he did do it, and I left the shop. Later ln the afternoon I called to find the same man resting in idleness and the place shut up. Ho says, " I don't like this but the laws of the land compel me to do it, and I have got to submit. '"'

Now, 1 would ask why should ono man toil whilo another in the same district rests ? That is one instance ; I will give another. Just picture a farmer and his man cleaning out a wet ditch in. water, or slashing down a big gorso fence under a hot hurning sun, and a batch of tradesmen come whirling along the road running olf somo bicycle race ; «..'• if the farmer chances to go into town oil these half holfdays he finds every one aw Trying oft for rest or recreation. Is that ft ir? I thing it is absurd. For another Instance take the teaching j.:u.c«ion. They have a whole day a wesk. lam not a very old man and welt ren>emter in the Home Country where the school wns taught half a day on a Saturday, imagine how a dominie wmld foot going, to work on a Satur lay in this fine colony. Yet that is what a farmer and his assistants have to do, Sunday scarcely excepted where much stock is kept According to the «>?d prcverb if a s'-.eep gets on its back we uiu:;t go fctralg!tway and put it on its Jtc-t again. In these cases I have mentioned the hcurs are very miuch less tlian tho farmer or their servants have to work, and they all have time set apart for thought and rest. Not so the farmer. He mtfst go on and keep his town neighbours strong mentally and physically. It seems to be a foregone conclusion that the farmers are right, and can stand anything.

Now for another side of the question. Some farmers say that it would never do. They could never get in their crops In spring or tho harpest reaped securely. Hero I would just ask these men this question ; how does tbe im. plement maker manage to turn out enough ploughs, .drills and binders to cope with the needs of the present day

when he leaves his workshop i-110 half a day each week? The' same applies to sawmillers. How do they manage to turn out all the timber in time to build all tho houses wanted ? The same in every trade you like to mention. Well, tho answer to my mind Is not far to seek. They all put up tho prico accordingly to make up for the loss of time. Looking at what I have stated I think it is time the farmers were on the alert and stuck to each other in their unions Just newly formed, and get on equal terms with their fellow men.

Farming i 9 a scicnco nowadays and getting more so every year, Thia being so, why should they not have leisure once a week like other men to meet and study their wants on a beautiful Saturday or Wednesday afternoon ? Some will demur I know. saying : I can't afford it, ray farm won't pay. Tho answer I give is the same as the other parties, put up the prico accordingly to make up the loss. We are told often that we are the mainstay, the backbone ol the country and It is we who feed the pekple. Then I say what is to discourage us. All we haveto do is to rally round our union and our halfholiday in assured. If all tho farmers in New Zealand were to say : we will grow no more crop, wool, or mutton than will . just feed ourselves, the rival side would soon grant the concession

asked.

If it is such a good thing to have a break in the six days labour oi about 44 hours with commercial men, surely it must be very jaecessary on a farm wherd the week's work is often 60 hours. These are my arguments in favour of a half holiday, and I may say universal rights. 18 the State and all parties abolish half-holidays, then I will bo pleased to keep silent ; but not till

then