THE AGRICULTURAL WORKERS ACT

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22987, 16 September 1936, Page 4

THE AGRICULTURAL WORKERS ACT

ro mi kditok Sir,—As a farm labourer I would like to thank Mr J. A. Roy. member for Clutha, and Mr C. A. Wilkinson, member for Egmont, for their criticism of the Agricultural Workers' Bill. Surely there is something wrong when the Minister of Labour (Mr H. T. Armstrong) starts making promises to the Farmers' Union. I thought white slavery was abolished years ago. A man who is prepared to sell other people's labour without first consulting them has no right to hold office in any Government. I would also like to remind the Farmers' Union that it is not stock it is dealing with, but human beings. The Labour Government, during its short time in office, has done nothing else but spoon-feed the useless individual who in good times would not get a job and. if he did manage to get it. could not hold it down Mr Semplc keeps telling us now and then " No work, no pay." I know, as well as the majority of the nublic knows, that the class of man on public works and Government relief schemes could

not earn 5s a day with an 80-hour week, far less 16s a day with a 40-hour week. Still, the Government seems to think that the good farm hand should be compelled to stop on the farm for a few shillings with an 80-hour week while the useless ornaments get all the 16s per day jobs. Surely if the country is financial enough to give the " wasters " of the country 16s per day, the farm labourer and others might be exempted from the unemployment levy.—l am, etc., Farm Labourer. Clinton, Sept. 14.