SHORTAGE OF LABOUR.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1646, 13 January 1913, Page 8

SHORTAGE OF LABOUR.

p. :.. ■ . THE FARMERS'' PLIGHT. From all quarters of New Zealand there has been a-demand for farm labour of all descriptions of late, and the supply has been far short of the demand. With the harvest season almost here, the prospect is not at all good from the farmers' point of view. Men who have boon in steady employment' sinco last harvest will be giving up their regular work now in order to go through the season's harvesting, so that the shortage of general labour for tho-farmor will probably, be more severe than ever, before'long. Discussing the labour problem on Saturday morning with Mr. J. D. Cruickshank, of tho New Zealand Farmers' Labour Exchange, ' a representative of The Dominion was informed that very great difficulty was being: experienced in tilling : orders of married and shepherds' required. A good many applications wero received for farm positions from now. arrivals from tho 01# Country, but very few! of tho applicants had the least knowledge 'of farm work. Most of-the 'new-arrivals' appeared,to' be froiri the cities, and were not at.all suited for, agricultural work. , In; many : cases' where positions had been found for 'new arrivals they had not had sufficient money to pay the .farei'td" their place, of employment and occasionally, when this lias been .advanced, .the men had failed to. put in an" appearance on the farm. It was stated as; a peculiar fact that the bulk of. the new arrivals appeared l to drift away from Wellington to the Auckland province. From, Mr. Cruickshanks's experience quite a few of tho new arrivals have evidently been misinformed in London as to what their .duties as far as' .agricultural work is concerned, would be tit this end. In his opinion the city inert should not be encouraged ' to come out at all, but the New Zealand Government representatives should be working in the agricultural districts of England and sorting out likely immigrants for the-farm'. . ■ : At the present time there, is an unlimited .'demand for qualified farm labourers,,continued Mr. Cruiclfshank, who added that ploughmen, and young fellows able-to milk were sought after, on all hands. However, the men were not avail-' able, and it appeared to be impossible to get them now. . As far' ns married couples, for the farm are concerned, it is coining to this, said Mr. Cruickshank— better .provision will have to be made on farms ond. stations requiring such labour, in regard to accommodation. : Very often a couple are barred because they haVe a family, and the only romedy is for sta-tion-holders to put up cottages for mar-, ried couples. Many farmers and sta-tion-owners are, according to' Mr. Cruickshank, beginning to realise this and are making provision for married couples with families. .

The demand locally for farm labour ia fairly general, but tho most' insistent demands come from Marlborough, Hawke's Bay, and throughout the "Wellington province. .-.

; It would appear that there is ample, scope for the newly-formed Immigration Department,, over which the Hon. H. D. Bell is presiding.