"FARM HANDS WANTED."

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2364, 21 January 1915, Page 7

"FARM HANDS WANTED."

D Slr j-W«, the heading "Farm Hands Wanted. Very Few Men Availthe Wellington branch of the Labour Department as saying that it has not one farm hand on its books, though there are a number of applications for farm hands at from 255. to 355. and found..and further that men hare refused such offers, even though unemployed and in debt. ■ You do not, however, supply any reason for this apparent anomaly, which apparently applies to tarm labour only. I have, Sir heard it said by the farmers, laziness! or unwillingness to leave the towns, lies at the bottom of the trouble. But men will leave the towns for other jobs in the country such as bushf ailing roadniakmg. railway . construction, shearing, rabbit poisoning, fencing, sawmillrng, flaxmilling, and scores of other pursuits, at which they exhibit a normal amount of energy and industry. Why. should the evil tendencies quoted above be solely confined to farming Jvork? Can it be, Sir,' that the conditions offered by the farmers are so unattractive that only as a last word can they induce the labourer to undergo them ? In all other pursuits there are dehnite hours, fixed wages, regular employment, decent accommodation, good tood. Can it be said with any truth that as a general rulo these terms apply to the conditions attached to farm labour? _ Tlio farmer's cry for "more labour is usually because at certain seasons more labour is required. But that accomplished, the labourer can go. As to what becomes of him is no concern of the farmer. His employment, therefore, is as a general rule spasmodic and irregular. What about the wages? You here quote "from 255. to dbs. ; but I thmk you would find far more cases at the lower than the higher ievel._ What uso is such a wage to a married man then? How much of it could bo sent home for the support of Ins wife and children before ho was turned off, because of having "no further need for his services." Take tho accommodation again. What miserable, dirty dreary abodes tho men's quarters usually are! Often only sack-bunks arranged round the walls, no conveniences, not oven a place to wash in. Of course, the "bo " has a palatial tiled bathroom, but mere "hands," of course, clou t need to wash, or if they do, there s the horse-trough handy. Then, as to the hours. No eight hours here, or twelve hours either. Daylight to dark is the rule, and often longer than this. What about food? As a rule, no doubt, it is good, but monotonous jidegree. Mutton, tea, potatoes, ,and duff are all right for a time, but served up every day in the week, they got monotonous. There is little or no I W 1 „ Tbß truth > Sir, is that, making duo allowances for certain men who wouid not leave tho towns under anv conditions, the position of a farm hand is so -unattractive, monotonous, and illpaid as compared with other avenues or employment that tho best men aro not attracted by it. Let the farmers increase wages, shorten hours, provido decent food and accommodation, and somo- means of recreate and amusement for the men, , and they will have no difficulty in attracting the right kind of men, fit and ready for all kinds of farm work. But I hear a fanner say "What's the fool talking about? It would ruin us. To upply theso principles to farming would j»« «;e should have to close down!" "ell; Sir, I contend what is driving many farmers perhaps not to ruin, but to sweating their emplovees, and working their wives and children to death, Js the high price they pay for. their land; and I say emphatically that if twenty years ago, when the" boom in land began to start, labour had been organised, and had demanded and obtained the conditions and wages I refer

to, that so far as the cost of production is concerned, the farmor would bo paying no more than at present, since the higher wages, shorter hours, and oetter living conditions, enforced by law, would necessarily have kept the price of land down, while he would bo infinitely benefited by a better class and a more skilled employee. That this is the true- remedy for the shortage of skilled farm labourers I am. as certain of as I am that sooner or later the farmer will have to come to the same conclusion.—l am, etc., AGRICOLA.