FARM LABOUR

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 79, Issue 65, 17 March 1936, Page 6

FARM LABOUR

Sir, —I notice in your paper of February 29, a letter written by Mr. Arthur Marsh, in regard to letters in your paper concerning complaints of farm labourers of conditions they have to put up with on the farms. There is no doubt they have a dog’s life, whether they have a good boss or a bad one. They have to work in all weathers and all hours for half the pay that can be got elsewhere, which is no fault of the boss. There is certain work to be done at certain times of the year. Mr. Marsh says in his '■asc the men have nothing to complain about, as he pays 25s a week for thirteen hours a day, including Sundays, if he is a dairy man. But he says the men are unclean. They step out of their clothes and leave them lie. They also have bad manners at the table, sprawl over the table, and draw up their soup or tea. Well, Mr. Marsh, I have employed lots of mon in my time, and I have never seen one that had bad manners at the table, and they were alwavs gentlemen amongst the children.—l am, etc., C. IT. BLACKLER. Marton. CHILLED BEEF Sir, —The report appearing in Jie Press on the recent consignment of chilled beef judged at the last Wanganui Show, is most disappointing, as there is not the slighest reference to the marbling merits in the muscular tissues which is the hall mark of the epicure’s beef, but evidently disregarded at Smithfield. On the other hand, it clearly demonstrates the North American taste is the antithesis to English requirements, as the beautiful white marble adepose tissue distributed between the muscles of the top sides and prime ribs of the only breed that furnishes it, viz., the Hereford, has forged the breed ahead in America, our shadowing all other breeds combined The blue grey steer that weighed 600 lb., fattened by Mr. Wyley, was evl dently the ideal body of beef for She judges, having been fattened with supplementary fodder while the other ex hibits were grass fed. And right here 1 should point out that the consumers that can afford to pay top prices for beef with a plethora of external fat cultivate the taste in a cold country, for the sake of the warmth imparted by the consumption thereof. However, I have no hesitation in saying that by so doing the complexions of the rich people in England suffer in comparison with the beautiful peachlike bloom of the poor people who have to be abstemious in their living according to their pockets. This applies to Yorkshire more than any other county, the result of fat beef, and pudding swimming in fat. Reverting to the blue grey steer lefore mentioned. For summer trade in New Zealand, and more so in Australia, the beef would not suit the economical housewife, as there would be a certain amount left on the plates after dinner. But. the beau tiful marbled beef, that possibly has less selvidge of fat and less kidney fat, as it cannot have it all ways, can be eaten like a jar jewel pear or a Blenheim orange apple—all except the skin and pips. In conclusion, may I suggest tQ all Hereford breeders that they communicate with Mr. Britten, the secretary of the white-faced breed in England, and furnish him with these notes, if you think them worthy of print, and suggest that at the next Smithfield adjudication an American meat man should have a say in the placings; or on the other hand, forward a consignment of different breeds to be judged in America, where the taste runs to marbled beef with less external fa:, and the consumers balance their food with pork and beans which preserves their complexions.—l am, etc.. JOSEI’ II CA RWA R DINE. Westmere, March 12, 1936.