MISERABLE THREE WEEKS

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 2, 24 March 1927, Page 1

MISERABLE THREE WEEKS

MIGRANT’S LIFE ON DAIRY FARM

TEMPTED BY GLOWING ADVERTISEMENT

Tempted by glowing advertisements and stories of waiting prosperity in New Zealand, two young miners left their homes in England last December and ventured to the Dominion.

Since their arrival in New Zealand the two young men have lived anything but happy lives. Both are at present in Auckland out of work. One of them spent a miserable three weeks on a dairy farm near Auckland. He tells a story of work from early morning until late at night, and of sleeping in a rough whare under filthy conditions. The sheets on his bed were not changed for the three weeks he slept in it. Herbert Fidler, aged 22 years, is one of the young men who has been disillusioned regarding life in New Zealand. He told his story to a SUN man to-day, and it is not the kind of story which will encourage other young and enterprising Englishmen to try their luck overseas. John Fidler, aged 25 years, Herbert’s cousin, was his companion, but he had

a more fortunate experience, and left his employment because he and his employer could not agree. Out of Work Both young men were coal-miners in Nottinghamshire. The big coal strike in England put them out of work and they decided to try their luck in New Zealand. Herbert came from Rain worth, Nottinghamshire, and John from Mansfield, a village three miles away.

Full of hope after a journey on the Remuera, they landed in New Zealand on January 10 and immediately proceeded to look for work. Herbert answered the advertisement of a farmer and was employed at the wage of £ 1 a week. He says that he rose at 4 o’clock in the morning and brought in a herd of cows to be milked. At 6 o’clock he had a cup of tea and a bun. Breakfast came at 9 o’clock, when the milking was done. His employer owned a fairly large farm and milked a herd of S 3 cows. Herbert

Fidler says he has nothing to say of the food. It was well-cooked and there was plenty of it. Slept in Whare “It was my sleeping quarters to which I objected,” he said. “I slept in a whare, the door of which l had to fasten on the inside with a rope. There was a bag on the floor, but I removed that soon after I got there; I was given sheets and blankets but they were never changed during the three weeks 1 slept in them. The bed was full of fleas.” John Fidler corroborated this. Herbert Fidler said that he did his own washing on Sunday afternoons. That was the only time he had to him - self. During the week his duties occupied him from 4 o’clock in the morning until 8.30 o’clock, in the evening. But for the sleeping accommodation Herbert Fidler would have stayed on the farm. He is anxious to work. He likes the country and has enjoyed better health since he arrived here. There -were two other boys on the farm during the time he was there. One of them left before Herbert Fidler did, and the other said he was leaving soon afterwards. These two boys had their beds made every day, but the same treatment was not given to the Home man. Father Disappointed On Sunday Herbert Fidler’s father and mother, Mr. and Mrs. Charles Fidler, arrived in Auckland from England. "My father is very disappointed,” said Herbert. “We understood that there was plenty of work here. Father had hoped to buy a farm, but I have advised him not to do so for a time.” “Is New Zealand advertised much in England?” asked THE SUN reporter. “Oh, yes,” said Fidler. “There are wonderful advertisements everywhere about the country and what a good one it is.” John Fidler's experience was much better. He was employed by a Morrinsville farmer. He said that his work was similar to that done by his cousin, but he and his „£mplqxer did not get on'Weil‘together, so hb left. John Fidler said that he was well looked after and had good food and a good home. Both these young Englishmen look fit and well and are prepared for any kind of work which is offering. Today they talked of going to Westfield to look for work there. They paid their own passages to New Zealand and were not assisted by the Government. “We like New Zealand very much,” both Herbert and John Fidler said in conclusion, “and we would like to get work, but we would never have left England had we known what conditions were like in New Zealand at present.” Both young men are in communication with the Rev. L. B. Dalby and are taking his advice during the time they are in Auckland. Mr. Dalby recently protested against the treatment of some of the immigrants who are employed on farms in New Zealand.