I felt compelled to write down in response to Nell Frizzell’s article (I’m positive robots are very good, however I don’t need them choosing my fruit, 4 July). I notice that she refers back to the pleasure of sharing a motel with fruit-pickers in New Zealand, versus the pleasure of truly doing the work. I’m positive the camaraderie of the workforce could be much like that in any mining neighborhood till the Nineteen Eighties. Probably the youngsters who have been chimney sweeps have been fairly jolly of their transient leisure time of their transient lives.
I spent a day choosing blackcurrants on a farm on the age of 15. It impressed me to remain in school and go to school. I now take pleasure in harvesting fruit and greens from my backyard – for about an hour. After that, the boredom and backache grow to be the dominating characteristic. After all the produce is more energizing and tastier, however the labour concerned is big.
Considered from a distance, and for transient durations, such work can appear bucolic. Nevertheless, it’s tedious and poorly paid. The earlier we will automate it, the higher.
Peter English
Ruthin, Denbighshire
