FARM LABOUR

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 3, Issue 265, 31 January 1941, Page 4

FARM LABOUR

Sir, —I was somewhat amused by reading your correspondent's letter suggesting that farm labour was quite plentiful -and the cry of a shortage was only a rumour OE myth. Anyone has only to scan the advertisements of newspapers circulating in the farming districts, when it will be seen there are about four farmers calling for labour for one A person advertising for farm work. Judging from your correspondent's letter, I am afraid he is not a bona fide farm worker. -Any good farm hand need not be three days let alone three jnorttns as your correspondent states he was. However there are so many duds among those applying for w r ork, that farmers, from bitter experience, are now more careful than formerly ag to who they employ. Some little. . while back my farm help had tot P leave his job at Short notice. An advertisement elicited but four applications, none of which were up to required standard. However to make the best of a bad bargain 1 chose the best, as I judged, of an inferior offering. In three months this man had put my cows dry „ • through faultj r handling; a new cream separator was cut and worn out for want of proper attention., This cost me £55 to replace. This farm hand was a loss of over £200 to me. Many farmers are giving wages and board to a farm hand, who instead, should be paying the farmer for his board. No casual farm hand is worth £5 per week. So, as a Te Puke farmer, I would suggest your correspondent will not improve his condition by coming here to Te Puke, as he threatens .i Better for him to get a turn on tjfte Government relief scheme; otherwise draw on Social Security pay. Yours etc., te'puke FARMER.