FARM AND RELIEF WORK.

Wairarapa Age, 28 July 1930, Page 5

FARM AND RELIEF WORK.

(To the Editor.) Sir, —I note that the chairman of the Masterton County Council asked a deputation of unemployed if it was a fact that men were leaving positions in the country in the hope of obtaining relief work in the towns. It is a wellknown fact that men are doing so, because fanners cannot offer the wages or conditions that men receive on relief works, at the present price of farm, produce. I don’t blame the mon for going where they get the most pay. If we have anything to dispose of, we all try to get the best price we can for it, but I think New Zealand will be where Australia is at present if primary produce does not improve in price for another year or more, and it might be the best thing that could happen for New Zealand. We farmers would get it in the neck first, but we will get it in the neck first in any case under our present laws. Where is the parent that will send his sons out on to a farm to be serfs and slave for the benefit of town dwellers? . They are far better on the unemployed works. Masterton people can agitate for a Penrose Training Farm, but where are the boys coming from to train? Why, the dairy farmers arc training hundreds of boys in tho Wairarapa every year, but as soon as they come to manhood where do you .find a large percentage of them? On relief works. As a farmer’s son said to me, “Drift to the towns. Why, as' soon as shearing is over I go to town and under award wages I can get ’bigger pay than any farmer can afford, to pay me.’i—l am, etc., “FARMER.” Masterton, July 22.