Farm Labourers' Union.

Waikato Argus, Volume XXIV, Issue 3752, 8 April 1908, Page 2

Farm Labourers' Union.

The hardship which the demand of the Farm Labourers' Union in regard to the abolition of contract labour would inflict on the small farmers of the country was well indicated by a , witness before the Conciliation Board at Rangiora the ether day. The witness in question, John .Fenwick, farmer and farm labourer, East Oxford, stated that he had 34 acres and milked 12 cows. He went out working, and with what he made out of bis farm he made a living. The abolition of the contracting would interfere with him seriously; as he depended on that class of work to make his living; a man milking cows could not get off at stated hours, hut with contract -work he could start and leave off when he liked. His average earnings at contract work were about 2s per hour at harvest, and Is 6d at other work—in both cases finding his own food. Some years he put in the larger portion of his time in a year working for others; in other years he would spend only three or six months working for others. He bad been a farm labourer solely before he got his land, and considered there was no reason whatever for altering existing conditions. He could get plenty of work —more than he could do; he had the pick of three jobs the previous day, [and of four that dav. Should the demands of the Farm Labourers' Union be granted, a very great hardship would be inflicted on a very deserving class of settlers. There is absolutely no reason in this narrow view of the-union, and it is to be hoped the board will look at the matter in the right light. There is little doubt as to which is the more satisfactory system —contract or clay labour.