Medal Suggested For Long Service On Farms

Chronicle (Levin), 1 July 1949, Page 6

Medal Suggested For Long Service On Farms

. , '■ WELLINGTON, June 30. "Does anybody know a farm worker who has been on the same farm for 40 years?" Amidst incredulous laughter came an unexpected answer from two voices — Yes. The question .and reply were heard at the annual . general meeting of the Royal Agricultural Society of New Zealand which' lat'er initiated steps to • recognise long service on fijarmsV - ■*> • 3 The past president, AfeyULuMi ' Wild | (Otaki) :d.isplhyed,.a,ifq.lder .fesued byr | the. Royal Agricultural Society pf lanil !and cohtaining '» reprddnctlbn: of ^ a f medal jJresenite'd 'by' the s'ociety to 'tliose I who had served a minimum 'of 40 years \ with one employer pr on aonej •hplding « with different. _emploj'ers. ' T.he .award ?

has been m yogue. tor 25 ye^rs. - woou- g men also vi'er e' eligible. * Cfi ooms, gar- G-* 'deners and 'ga^mekeep'ers•':w'4i■6, ndti • The report of the English. rso'eiety, said Mr. Wild, showed that . laSt ,year,; 176 awards were made, 17 of them at , the hands of the King, at the Royal Show at Y&rk. Forty-seven were presented at country shows and 53 by Lord Halifax in London, after which vhe ' recipients, were taken on a tour of the .city and attended a national harvest thanksgiying service ,'in Westminster j ■Abbey. . " . - j "Wo'uld. it; not be a good thing," ! Mr. Wild continued, "if workmen on J farms ih this .country reeeived some j public recogkition ■ of their efforts?" j New Year and King 's Birthday honours ] ' were- distributed over a narrow field j and one was often asked what so and 3 - ! so had done to come into.the picture at I

all. It '.Was " itnprpbable that m#ny people in New Zealand' had workpd 40 years as aii empioyee on the same faTip. 'was-- a land' of ;opportunity where. the •' farm worker- of today was the farmfr of tomorrow. Modern machinpry .algo te'nded to make for shorter service . on * farms. However, . something in recog- i nition of -long service on the land should be institutedcin New Zealand.; . Mr. A. Granf, of . Waimate, said that as a' boy 40 years ago he had seen men deeorated for long service on farms in . Scotland. The intrpduction by the Royal Agricultural Society of New Zealand, of a long service medal .for farm workers, 4 was referred to all affiliated agricultural and pastoral associations for consideration and report. , »