VOICE OF THE PEOPLE

Taranaki Daily News, 8 September 1934, Page 9

VOICE OF THE PEOPLE

VIEWS ON CURRENT TOPICS FARMING CONDITIONS ARGUMENT. WHAT IS THE BASIC CAUSE? (To the Editor.) «> Sir,—ln the heat of argument oftimes the cause which brought it about is lost sight of. “Ex-Employee” should recall that this controversy was started through prominent farmers in this locality airing their views publicly on the relief worker, and claiming that the Government should be called on to close the relief camps to enable the farmer to employ cheap labour just when he needs it. If “ExEmployee” was ever a farm hand under the conditions prevailing for the past two or three years it would be interesting to know how he managed to make any progress to better his condition. • The average farm hand rarely sees a. newspaper unless he pays for it himself, How is he to know of any good jobs or even, to get to them if he is working 12 to 14 hours each day? Clothes arid boots wear out, and paying his boss back the advance necessary to obtain them, often at an inflated price, his monthly wage, even if paid promptly (more often cannot), can be reckoned in pence. We hear a lot about the “poor farmer,” but what about, those owning two or three farms? Is there any excuse for. a wealthy farmer housing his men under insanitary conditions, making them find everything for themselves, and paying a wage which works out at about 15s per week after food bills are paid. Yet a farm hand must pay a levy of IS in every pound on his wage, clothe himself, and support any dependents on the balance. Further, the job offers no progress. Where is the farmer that offers his man any assistance to obtaining a farm for himself? The argument about frozen capital is too true. Let the Government start with the farmers by condemning derelict buildings and insanitary houses, insisting on facilities for decency, and not permitting wealthy farmers to hoard up their capital with their men working under deplorable conditions. It will be too late -when an epidemic starts, and ~ foreign-made shaving brushes will not be the cause. Public opinion is a great force, and any farmer not giving his men a square deal should be dealt with by those farmers who are conscious of their dignity and what is due from them as employers of labour. Surely with all their powerful organisations a simple rule as to terms and conditions of hired labour during fee different seasons could be drawn up by the. farmers themselves, and their members asked to accept-it as a gentleman’s agreement. I think that would make for happier feelings between all parties, and so end a merited or unmerited slur on all the farming community.—l am, etc. • * ' \ ANTI-HUMBUG. New Plymouth, Sept 7. . :