FARM LABOUR.

Waikato Times, Volume 118, Issue 19661, 22 August 1935, Page 9

FARM LABOUR.

(To the Editor.)

Sir, —There have been a great, many letters regarding shortage, of men and youths willing to take on jobs with the dairy farmers. From my knowledge the cause is the long hours, all weathers, seven days a week, and generally poor wages for a great many workers. Of course there are quite a number of farmers who study the workers’ welfare and comfort, and they have very little trouble to get the neoossary labour; hut I know that in many cases farm hands are looked upon as just" pieces of necessary machinery, to he worked to the utmost capacity. In the Times a little more than a week ago I read an aooount of a meeting held at Hinuera, where ono speaker said that if young men would not go on the farms they should bo made to. I suggest this savours of Lhe old pressgang. I am quite aware that some of those same gentlemen own fairly large farms, so the solution for them Is either to rear their own labour or otherwise cut their holdings into smaller farms and let the Government lease them at, say, 10s per acre —thus their problem would be solved. No good farmer has much trouble to get labour, and if farmers would allow employees an acre or so to grow something for themselves It would give the men or boys an Interest to keep their jobs- It is just possible that the day of the passing of the big estates is near at hand, ushering In an era of more populous rural activities. This is practically the only solution of present-day problems. —I am, etc-, W. O- L. JAItVIS. I’ranklon, August 19, 1935.