FARM LABOUR PROBLEM

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 1, Issue 84, 6 November 1939, Page 8

FARM LABOUR PROBLEM

PRIMARY PRODUCTION

DISTRICT COUNCIL MEETS

Mr R. Ruddiek Ava.s appointed chairman and Mr G. 11. Kent secretary at the meeting of the District Council of Primary Production on Thursday. The question of farm labour Avas discussed at length and it AA'as resolved that this matter, together Avith any other problem concerning the farmers in the district, should be the subject of enquiries by the members as individuals, and that they should make their recommendations to the Council at the next meeting. Mr C. Walker, Avho coiwcned the initial meeting held on the 19th of last month, gaA 7 e an account of his visit to Wellington and his attendance at the National Council's deliberations. He said that that body was agreed on the difficulties that the farmers had to contend Avith and took the A'icAA* that unless assistance Avas forthcoming, farming in general and primary production in particular Avould be held up. Farm Labour. This topic provoked a good deal of discussion and a sub-committee AA'as formed to deal, AA T ith it. Mr E. C. Haultain suggested that five members Avould constitute an admirable team and Messrs R. Ruddick (A. and P. Association), W. A. McCracken (Rangitaiki Dairy Association), E. E. Haultain (Rangitaiki Branch, N.Z.F.U.). W. Church (N.Z. Workers' Union), and Mr Searling of the Placement Office, were elected. It Avas dcciedd to Avritc to the Farmers' Union and ascertain the labour requirements. Regarding the Public Works employees AA'ho AA r ere aA'ailable for farm Avork Mr J. L. Burnett reported that he had found them to be firstclass'Avorkers and Avcre Avilling to go into the country. Thev Avere usually paid at the rate of 2s 6d per hour but it AA-as stated by Mr Walker that their main complaint lay in the fact that they lost a good deal of time in Avct Aveather. In hay-making too, a fair amount of time A\as lost because the farmers could not be on the job for eight hours a daj r .

Mr Haultain'? opinion, supported by Mr Burnett, is that the main difficulty does not lie in the securing of seasonal labour, but that permanent assistance be giA r cn consideration, because that is the harder to obtain. Mr N. W. Carter suggested that the reason for che farm labour problem lay in the farmer's inability to pay competitive rates of Avages, An increase in the guaranteed price AA'ould enable the farmer to extend a more liberal scale of remuneration and this Avould attract Avorkers to the country. Mr McCracken said that industrial aAA'ard nay certainly militated against labour seeking' AA'ork away from the toAvns. Increasing Production. The definite need to increase production by all means AA-as stressed by Mr C. R. Taylor, Department of Agriculture, AA'ho pointed out that that Avas the purpose for Avhich the council had been formed. He asked for a clear lead on this one subject from the National Council.

"It is no good scratching the surface," said Mr Taylor. "We must get to the root of things. What we want is a straight-out lead from the national Council and Ave can base our actions on their plan."

Mr Sullivan agreed that this was desirable and this drew an explanation from Mr Walker. He said that the problem of primary production were essentially localised because of the different conditions prevailing in various parts of the country and had to be treated on the spot in the respective districts. That was why the District Councils had been formed.