QUESTIONNAIRE

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 2, Issue 158, 10 May 1940, Page 5

QUESTIONNAIRE

INCREASING PRODUCTION LABOUR SHORTAGE Conducting a survey, the District Pig" Council's officers contacted one hundred farmers, and the result makes interesting reading. The questionnaire, with percentage answers, is as follows: — Are you this year increasing your lbs pig meat production? 68 per cent yes 32 per cent no. By the 32 pel cent these reasons were given: Lack of facilities, no increased coav reared more calves, no winter pigs, labour, using less meal, cost of concentrates. Do you buy pigs? 87 per cent no, 13 per cent yes. Have you reared more pigs this year? 47 per cent yes, 32 per cent same, 21 per cent less. Have you any crops? 81 per cent yes. Of these 81 per cent, 50 per cent increased crop production this year. Of these 50 per cent, 36 per cent had not cropped before. 19 per" cent no. These reasons were given: Labour, uneconomical, unsuitable locality, don't winter pigs, haven't room for crops. Are you wintering more pigs this coming winter? 47 per cent yes, 9 per cent indefinite, 44 per cent no. Are you using barley and/or pollard imported by the Internal Marketing Department? 75 per cent yes, 18 per cent no, 7 per cent indefinite Have you made any housing and/ or lay-out improvements? 32 per bent yes, 21 per cent intend shortly, 47 per cent no. These reasons were given: Not necessary, finance, labour, difficulty of getting materials. Please define the labour position on your farm? 59 per cent describe ed position as satisfactory but some admitted the asistance of their families. 41 per cent have labour difficulties. The 41 per cent described their labour difficulties under these headings: Inefficiency, unavailability i undependability, and the relation of costs to farm income.