Farm Workers’ Wages

Press, Volume CV, Issue 30978, 7 February 1966, Page 12

Farm Workers’ Wages

Sir, —After many years as a farm worker, my husband, now in his mid-forties, joined the drift to town and for some time has had a 5-day 40-hour week. Financially we find no great difference. We now plan to build our own home. With a school-age family to consider, this opportunity, added to the obvious advantages of town life, by far outweigh farm wages with all their added “perks.” Increased wages alone are not the answer. Good luck to the farm worker in his search for recognition as a skilled worker. Why not create an agricultural force (both skilled and unskilled men), who could be organised to travel out daily from their own homes? Britain did this. —Yours, etc.. M.D.J. February 3, 1966.

Sir.—“7o Years” states there is no comparison between the financial position of the farm worker and that of the town labourer. We are experienced farm workers and know this is untrue. (His implication that farmers cannot afford to pay more cannot be seriously regarded.) On £l3 10s a week 'we thought we were well off

receiving a quarter of mutton (15s), 28 pints of milk and free rent. When we tired of living in old inconvenient houses the farmers had discarded and bought one In town we found ourselves much better off. My husband earns- £22 for fewer hours. our rent is £3 17s (very few pay £6 to £7) and we grow just as much in our town garden. However, as we love country life, if conditions and wages improve, along with many others we shall probably return.—Yours, COUNTRY MOUSE February 2, 1966.