FARM LABOURERS’ UNION

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXII, Issue 19478, 23 December 1925, Page 6

FARM LABOURERS’ UNION

(To the Editor.) Sir. —I can quite imagine all the over-time work "Fair Play” has put in and can also imagine him on many r different stations during his 27 years. [ The general wage for a married couple ; on a farm (wife no duties) is £l5O to . £2OO per annum, according to ability. ! The man is given his meat, a cow found and firewood, etc. Ho works eight hours a day when weather permits. I ask "Fair Play” how will the Farm Workers’ Union improve this, and v. •: thor the bit of overtime the worker puts in makes up for the wet days he does not work? Other work on farms is often let by contract. The men are their own bosses and work entirely to suit themselves, often making £8 and £9 a week. Or they can work by the day—2s to 2s lid per hour and find themselves, or Is 9d an hour, found. I ask "Fair Play” how is it going to improve this? It is a using to think of a shepherd out in the heat of the day mustering. A shepherd, chooses himself whether he gets out at 4.30 a.in. Io muster, or gets out later on and works the sheep through the heat of the day. If the union set a wage I take it the shepherd i will be. paid for the time he works. 'Therefore in winter, when there is [ little work for the shepherd to do. he [won’t get a living. "Fair Play” 1 should get one of those little note ! books and work out in which way the | shepherd would be better off. The maijority of farm labourers I find are not planting a union, and there is no need for a good man to work for a bad boss * in New Zealand.—l am, etc., STATION MANAGER.