FARM WORKERS' COTTAGES

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LX, Issue 17060, 13 August 1917, Page 5

FARM WORKERS' COTTAGES

SHOULD BETTER AOCOMMODA- , /riON BE v PROVIDED ?

INTERESTING {DISCUSBION (AT FEILDING.

/ (From Our Travelling Reporter.) ' : That the fa-rraer is doing well no one can deny, and if he is desirous of, sue-' cessfully competing against the tow.n for workers, he will not only have to give better ; wages, but also provide better accommodation for his hands. In the country just now there is a great demand for labour, but labour is irrasponsive, because of tho wretched conditions under which some rural workers have to exist. While there are many exceptions, of course, some farmers compel their boys and men to sleep in wretched boxes attached to the stables; in fact one young fellow who has. just turned down his job in the country informed me that his boss "gave ~ his horse a darned site better accommodation that he gave me, so I told him he could get some one else who did nqt object to sleeping in tne stable with a partiton between the horses and himself, as I had to do, and iir a 'box' without practically any ventilation." In their own interests, therefore, farmers will have to see to it that rural life is made more attractive.. It is interesting to note, in this connection; a -discussion took place at tne Ifeilding A. and'P. Association meeting on Friday evening. Mr J. Knight said that at the receit. Conference of -Agri-' cultural Societies one of the remits carried was that cottages for merrier men should be provide'a on fanra. The Comerenee was uf the opinion that where the farmer was uuible to and tne cost of the cottage, tne Government" suouicl oe asked to uavauce the money. Mr Knight considered that it was a good thing to provi-d proper accommodation oh farms for married workers.

Mr Elliott considered it was not right for fanners to go cap in hand to the Government aud ask for money for suck a purpose. They were doing all right themselves, and should provide the ac^ commodation. The working man wouldbe up against the Government doing" such a thing. Mr J. G. Cobbe referred to what was being done in Ireland in the direction indicated. The Urban Councils (corre, spending to the County Councils in this' ■ Dominion) were given the power to select one-acre plots on farms and to erect workers' cottages thereon, the money to buy these plots being advanced by tiie Government. The workmen., who rented the cottages were charged rent amounting to three per cent interest on the cost of the land and cot-" tage. The result had been a big suc-c cess. These workmen's cottages could bo found all over the country districts of Ireland.- Before the introduction of. the scheme ie was difficult to find farm* labour. but since, the labour could always be found. -.-' Vv

Mr J. W. Bramwell: They don't se'erii to be very happ ' in Ireland just now! Mr. Cobbe A good deal of what you read is merely newspaper agitation. You must, not believe everything you read in the papers about Ireland? (Laughter.) In some things we lead the world, and this country cottage scheme is one of them.