The Forgotten Worker

Book excerpt: As New Zealand's agricultural industry developed in the twentieth century, the rural worker – shearer, labourer, musterer – began to disappear from public view. In this fascinating study, John Martin uncovers the lives of these 'forgotten workers', describing their working lives, relationships with employers, living conditions and expectations. Their experiences are brought to life in their own words and a remarkable range of photographs, painting a vivid portrait of a changing world. The Forgotten Worker is also an account of New Zealand's changing rural world, altered by the development of the family farm, the growth of dairying and increased mechanisation.