SUNDAY HARVESTING.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 7071, 17 February 1893, Page 2

SUNDAY HARVESTING.

(ro THE EDITOR.) Sib,— Just a word or two about Sunday harvesting. Are we going to ignore the fen Commandments ? If it suite me to break one of them, it will probably suit my neigh hour to break another, and *o on 5 at that rate weshallsoon hare heathenism pure and simple. I am sorry to say that in this district Sunday harvesting is much more common than it used to be. At one time a nor’wester w«s considered about the only excuse fur so doing, bat now many farmers work every Sunday during harvest, whether the weather threatens or not. One of my neighbours actually went to town on Sa'urday and reaped his oats on the following Sunday. Another fanner not Tery far away chose Sunday as a suitable time to commence reaping, and a subsequent Sunday to begin stacking. I might be allowed to mention that two or three days after beginning reaping, one of bis two machines broke down, and be bad to read to Timsru for a now one. I find that as a rule the largo farmers, those who could better afford any loss that might arise, are the worst offenders in this respect, the levels estate being a conspicuous example I contend (and I have been farming in Canterbury for the last 20 years) that Sunday harvesting is unjustifiable We know per* | feotly well when wo sow our seed that we have to run the risk of whatever weather may come during the harvest. The rain or the nor-westor is not an unexpected calamity such as a fire or a flood, but one of the ordinary contingencies of our business ; and taking one season with another there is always a loss from these causes. Therefore we have no more right to encroach upon the Day of Rest than those of other

occupations. I am also firmly of opinion that in ths long run and in tbe fullest and most comprehensive sense it pays to" Remember the tjabbath Day to keep it holy.” I am, &0., James Bishop. Pleasant Point, February 15th, 1893.