LABOUR FOR FARMS.

Southland Times, Issue 22732, 7 November 1935, Page 7

LABOUR FOR FARMS.

To the Editor.

Sir, —I read in your paper this morning a letter by “Southland Farmer” in which he complains of the shortage of farm labour. Now, sir, whose fault is this? In the first place the wages offered are no inducement to any man who thinks of his future, to seek farm employment. “Southland Farmer” states that wages up to £2 10/- a week and found draw a blank; but when was this sum offered during the last few years? I know of several men, and good men, too, who if they were offered anything above 30/- a week, would just jump at the chance. I do not say ‘‘Southland Farmer” is like this, but in some farm-houses, working men are just treated as little better than dogs and expected to work from daylight (and in a lot of cases, from long before daylight) till dark, for a paltry few shillings a week. Is this an inducement for men to seek farm work? Also he goes on to say the farmer pays his wage tax. This is not the case. The man has to pay it, and then clothe himself on what is left, and very poor clothes he has, too. How is a man to make any provision for his future on this? I think that if “Southland farmer” put an advertisement in the paper offering £2 10/- a week and found, he would want a private secretary to cope with the replies. Doesn’t he think we have enough boards in the country now without setting up another one to deal with this huge problem of his, which would right itself if wages in keeping with the work were offered.—l am, etc., FARM LABOURER.