SHORTAGE OF LABOUR

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2544, 19 August 1915, Page 8

SHORTAGE OF LABOUR

FARMERS 'APPREHENSIVE. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.! Hamilton/ August. 18. serious shortage" of farm labour is \; : reported: througliout'the '. Waikato, v a : largepercentage of the young men previously engaged. in farming pursuits are either at. the front or in training, and agriculturists'and dairymen view, the approach of the productive! season with somo apprehension-. Land-owners who . had retired from active.' operations on., v the farm must again buckle to in order to prevent their lands and herds going back; - In- somo cases-wealthy men are to bo. sceii driving their own stock over • lengthy while women...who had forsworn the milking shed are again busy, with the-pail. The coming-season promises, in fact, to be fraiight' with v great difficulties froni the' standpoint; of. ' labour, and the Hamilton >;and :Gambridgo braiiclies of tlio Faliners'. Union are already starting to orgaiiiso a labourrecruiting campaign;-- The ■Compulsory Registration-Bill is considered'.by.them an excellent measure, for it will givo.an idea- of- what labour is really .available '■ in tho Dominion. The Labour ,Department is-'oo-operating with tlie PaTmfers' ■TJm'on in'tlio recruiting efforts, and it : 5s probable' that tho Government, during the coming sessions-may be urged to - fcring -in -an Empowering Bill to enable 1 'boys and girls of suitable age td.be -em- ■ ployed on. farms, especially, during the harvesting season. I