CHRISTMAS HOLIDAYS.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 2, Issue 351, 30 December 1879, Page 2

CHRISTMAS HOLIDAYS.

(To the Editor ol the Walubapa Daily) Slit—l beg to call the attention of your readers to the serious inconvenience farmers sutler from their men leaving them at Christmas time. This jear, in consequence of the continued wet weather, hay remains uncut or unhoused, grass seed uathreshed, turnips and potatoes unsown. Last year, in consequence of the early season, one settler lost a good field of .ints, owing to being short-handed just at the time when it required cutting. Far be it from me. to desire to deprive the uieu of a well-earned holiday ;■ but unfortunately Christmas time falls in the Wairapa at the most inconvenient and busiest season of the year. What would be said •in England if all the farm hands expected to get this holiday just as the harvest wascoming on 1 Yet that is the practice in the Wairarapa, and the more the lands of the valley are cultivated the greater will the inconvenience be found, I think I do but express the opinion of my fellowsettlers in this respect. Farming in the Wainirapa occupies a most unenviable position with regard to time-honored Christmas time. In the South the crops do not ripen until nearly three weeks later than they do here—a very great advantage to farmers, who can then easily afford to let their men enjoy the Christinas holidays.. Even the men suffer. How many a small settler throws up or hurries over a job in order to get' in his small patch of potatoes before Christinas; and now that settlers are taking to growing turnips I really don't know what will be done, for the end of December in the Wairafapais one of the best sowing times in the month. I shall most likely not be thanked for pointing this matter out to you, but I am certain the common' sense of the men themselves will support me. A farmer here cannot get in all his crops in time to clear up. for Christmas, yet it would be hard to refuse to allow his men to go to the races or other sports, Ido trust that Race Committees and other gentlemen will take compassion upon the farmer, who has enough against without seeing his men drawn away just at the time he stands most in need of Ihent. After this wet season, sir, how many a man would like to get a small bit of hay in, yet he daren't attempt to do so, knowing that little assistances is to be expected. Again, a crop is reaVly to be cut: the men are away. A puff of wind comes on and the crop is lost. \ . I am, &c, \ Settler/' . December 23rd, 1879.