Editorial: Honouring a life of honest toil

Rose White is hanging up her apron strings after 40 years at work at Silver Fern Farms.

There is something heart-warming about a story of a person who has spent his or her life doing a honest day's toil.

Who is not moved by the tale of Rose White, who is hanging up her apron and knives after 40 years and 328 days at Silver Fern Farms.

Her niece, Ikaroa Rawhiti MP Meka Whaitiri, makes a good point when she says these are the people that the industry needs to look after.

I was not around at the time, but I have heard the stories of the halcyon days of the meatworks in Hawke's Bay and the lasting detrimental effect their closure had on families and communities who went from stable jobs and good wages to unemployment and the dole in one fell swoop. Generations have suffered.

Unfortunately, not everyone has the opportunity to study further for degrees that set them up in good jobs with big salaries. Some people have to work for a long time to make it. It does not mean that their labour is any less worthy.

My father grew up in a working-class family and the tragic early death of his father saw him become the bread winner of the family at the young age of 15. In 1950s South Africa, the only job was on the mines around Johannesburg. Some of the deepest gold and coal mines are there and he realised that in order to put food on the table for his mother and two younger brothers, he had to step up.

That is what some people do to survive and their work ethic is too often ignored.

Times are tough economically and companies are being squeezed. Often hard decisions have to be made, but the hard work of people who just do their job needs to be acknowledged.

Mrs White says that after 40 years of hard labour, she decided it was time to move on. Well done, Mrs White. Enjoy your retirement.