EMPLOYMENT ON FARMS.

Taranaki Daily News, 27 October 1932, Page 2

EMPLOYMENT ON FARMS.

(To the Editor.)

Sir,—A report in your paper on I’rtdav last stated that a farmer advertised for a man, offering £1 per week and found and got no applicants, tie applied at the unemployed camp. No one there cared to take it on; preferred to work for 10s a week and found. Peihaps Mr. Farmer was one of those very srood sort of farmers who treat thenemployees well and is well known. My experience with some of the. farmers may be the cause of their not being able to get employees. Up at 4.0 ami., muster cows, yard them, machines put on by daughter, father and myself stnpWhen between 28 and 30 cows havrn been put through, away for a, horse, yoke up, cans placed, oft to factory, while father and daughter off to the house for refreshments, lheyj do not think the employee is human. The man had nothing before starting for the fac tory, about a mile or more distant, and found anywhere between eight and 1J carts or motor lorries waiting to deliver. His turn came. He discharged and filled up with whey, then back home at 10 30 to 11 o’clock; then unload and go to' breakfast, mostly bacon and. eggs; almost cold tea, been made two or three hours, cold and bitter, llie farmer’s wife sits there and watches how much bread and butter you consume,

also sugar. The meal finished, back you go to feed calves and pigs, if any; wash up cans, buckets and machines. Then jump in the cart and off to load and lay out mangolds and carrots, also hay as required for the cattle after the night’s milking. Between 1 and 2 o’clock you let the horse out and go into dinner —just meat and potatoes, or potatoes and meat each meal—midday or 2 o’clock dinner you may call it. After dinner repairing fences in the garden or field until cow time, 3.30 p.m. Start milking 4.15 p.m., finished at 6.30, tea 7 p.m. or after, a glimpse at the paper, and bed-time.

During summer with the clock advanced the same hours apply in the morning, but in the afternoon the boss says 3.30 is too early for the cows. That means milking at 5 o’clock, finished at 7.30. Sometimes the boss is in town enjoying himself and the employee is on his own, very often. with. 40 to 80 cows. The boss comes home at 6 or 7 p.m., and it is 8.30 or 9 p.m. before there is any tea; no solid puddings, Only such as rice, sago or custard —flour and sultanas are too dear. ■ No washing or mending. How can you expect men to take such as that on in a civilised coun-try?—-I am, etc., DO UNTO OTHERS. Oct. 24, 1932.