A modern farmer, part of a long tradition of women working the land. Photo / Bevan Conley
Kem Ormond takes a look at the world of farming back in the day. In this week’s Pastures Past, she’s found newspaper articles from 1917 and 1943 on women on farms.
During World War I and World War II, rural communities faced unprecedented challenges.
With so many men serving overseas, farms across the country were left without their traditional workforce.
Had it not been for the resilience and determination of women, many properties would have fallen into serious decline.
With little alternative, women stepped forward to manage and maintain farms, taking on demanding physical labour and daily operations.
While some farmers were initially reluctant to accept women in these roles, as reported in the NZ Herald in 1943, necessity quickly reshaped attitudes.
If farms were to remain productive, women were essential.
They milked cows, dipped sheep, tended stock, repaired fences, and kept properties running efficiently.
The Northern Advocate reported in 1943 that shortages of basic supplies, including gumboots, meant some women worked long hours barefoot on farms.
Their contribution was not only practical but pivotal, ensuring food production continued and rural economies survived during wartime.
Below is a selection of historical stories from the New Zealand Herald (1917 and 1943) and the Northern Advocate (1943).
New Zealand Herald, March 27, 1917
Women workers on farms in the Wanganui district are doing their bit towards helping the Empire in this time of trouble, says a Wanganui paper.
Several instances have been quoted recently in this connection, and it has been known for many years that women taken their share in the work on dairy farms.
Up till a day or two ago, it was always held that dipping sheep was a man’s work, but on a farm near Wanganui a woman was seen doing the dipping and doing it well.
She was a guest at the homestead, and as there was a shortage of men she offered her services, which were gladly accepted.
The result was that she put through 1400 sheep in the day–a creditable performance.
Northern Advocate, April 8, 1943
“That the Government be asked to arrange for women’s gumboots for use on farms to be given priority; and that the wives and daughters of farmers be issued with clothes for farm use on the same basis as land girls.”
This was decided at Tuesday’s meeting of the Whangarei Sub-provincial Executive of the Farmers’ Union.
Mr C. T. Flyger stated that some shopkeepers in Whangarei had imported gumboots from Australia, but these were commandeered before arrival in Whangarei.
In one instance, he stated, 400 pairs were imported.
Farmers’ daughters were working on farms while the boys were away, and they could not get gumboots.
Even girls on testing duties were without these boots.
Girls were going barefoot all day on farms.
Mr A. O. Adlam considered that women working on farms should be given priority.
Mr Flyger considered that extra coupons should be given to these women, as they now have to draw on their ordinary coupons for clothing.
Land girls got uniforms and were supplied with clothes.
Mr J. C. McKay was of the opinion that farmers’ womenfolk should be issued with clothes for use in the milking shed on the same basis as land girls.
Surplus available
Appeal to use labour
New Zealand Herald, November 23, 1943
An effort is to be made to encourage farmers to make more use of women workers.
At the present time, there is a considerable surplus of enrolments in the Women’s Land Service over vacancies for women on farms.
It is considered that the greater use of women will help farmers to avoid sending cows to the killing works because they do not have enough labour to milk them, and that it will in many other ways further the general effort to maintain and increase production, although their employment will not relieve seasonal labour demands, such as that which has resulted in the mobilisation of Territorials.
In a circular which has been sent to district councils of primary production, Mr. P. W. Smallfield, director of the fields division of the Department of Agriculture, says it is realised that farmers are reluctant to accept inexperienced workers, but as time goes on they must realise that there will be no alternative if permanent labour is wanted.
Mr. Smallfield says that in Britain, there are 60,000 members of the Women’s Land Army working on farms.
In spite of a considerable amount of prejudice on the part of farmers at the beginning, the women have shown themselves capable of doing most of the work previously carried out by men.
In New Zealand, there are 1150 members of the Women’s Land Service on farms.
“Our women are being used to a considerable extent to take the place of men in industry,” says Mr. Smallfield.
“And I think it can be fairly stated that agriculture has lagged behind in this respect, and it will be necessary for farmers to employ many more of them.”
- Source: Papers Past