FARM LABOUR

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 2, Issue 149, 19 April 1940, Page 5

FARM LABOUR

DISCUSSION AT WARD CONFERENCE RESOLUTIONS PASSED Mr W. A. MeCrackcn raised the subject of farm labour during question time at the ward conference ot the Dairy Board on Tuesday. "I don't know whether it is not too great a problem for us," he said. "It should be the concern of the Government." . Referring to the 44 hour week, Mr McCracken said farm hands were working long hours in comparison with other industries. In his opinion there was plenty of labour in the country but it was not available. He suggested some form of Register Office or Labour Bureau: in every district, with a man in charge who was conversant with the requirements of the dairy industry. The problem was .becoming" increasingly difficult#, said Mr McCracken, and the present was the time to take steps to relieve the position. It was problematical whether the reintroduction of the 44 hour week into industry would assist to any great extent. Mr W. E. Hale, Chairman of the Dairy Board, detailed conversations he had had with the manpower committee. It was stated by another member that the problem could be largely overcome if the Government assisted the farmers with the provision of accommodation for their employees. 1 Conscription as Corrective; Mr McGougan, Taneatua, said the Government was making that provision for houses for married farm hands and sharemilkers. It was his view that the whole trouble was caused by the fact that conscrip- ! tlon had not been introduced. It was natural, he said, thai farm hands should enlist. If conscription 'was brought in the Government would say whether a man was to go or not.. A resolution was passed: That in view of the serious depletion of farm labour through voluntary enlistments, the Government should be urged to introduce conscription for military and national service and the utilisation of all available labour for essential production. A resolution was also passed in connection with the suggested reintroduction of the 44 hour week in Industry, without any wage increase, as a national war effort. It was worded: That as a national war effort and in order to raise production the Government be urged to revert to the 44. hour week.