THE FARMERS' PROBLEM

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 2954, 18 December 1916, Page 10

THE FARMERS' PROBLEM

SHORTAGE OP LABOIJII. . ■. - Reports of shortage of laboux- continue to como from the country districts, and it appears that the trouble is being accentuated by the operation ,of the ballot. Th# reservists sciooi as recruits for the Expeditionary Force include many hundreds of farmers, i farmers' sons,' and farm workers, and •though* jjeriods of exemption may be allowed m cases of particular hardship, most of the tit men will have to {jet into camp. "The piucli is being ' felt even more severely, than the farmers generally admit," said, a Waira- : rapa man last week. "The work on . =, many farms is being carried on with - extreme difficulty, and ilinow of men •who are hard at it fourteen and sixteen hours a day in the effort to keep : .'things; going ; Their difficulties will ... increase as times,goes on." , I. A settler on the: East Coast mentions in a letter that his "last ewe lamb," in the form of liis last skilled •hand, has been enlisted comp'ulsorily. "I know an appeal will' not be sustained," he writes, "but on these : back-country/' stations it is absolutely necissary who-are pliysi- , tally sound and fit. After forty, years - .a mail does not ' seem to stand the eternal horse-work. Every sound,'fit man we' had is enlisted, and from June until now we have had no shepherd on the place. There ib a lad here ~ 'who is just of age, and who drives .the bullock team,, runs'the eugine, etc. ■ 110 and I have bad to do the whole sheep-.work of the station, > and now ••• he is to go. .'' , "On another very large station in this district there aro only three shop-- , .herds," arid on another two shepherds. Ono large place has . the manager and-* - h, cow-inari. ; Another lias a shepherd ,'.(wlm was forbidden by tho doctors to , Work af'all), and the young son, of . the owner. . The . only other ■ men -on - place are a' gardener, who is a: - Swiss, a cook,'who'is; a'., Swede, and a " Kussian, Pole.' Thfcse men are all well: ovoi military' age. ' ■ Wo are not in any way ''grousing; but';l airi mention- - -j?" facts in order, to give you an' idea of what is'actually happening in' ... these outdistricts.'f

A meeting of the' Wairarapa Execu- •- tu-e of tlie Farmers' Union will bo held on -Tuesday next, to consider a pro- - ,'posal to set up a board to organise labour, and to .watch the interests of „ farmers who may bo called up for ac- .. tivo service.' - - ."Hp-to-date' Cheese Factory. Managers are unanimous • in their praises concern- *. Hif? tho famous Victor Vat.-. The new - sloping "bottom and middle' draina-o; make for a' complete elimination , of - \vhejv and this efficiency 15 reflected iii ' ])igger company dividends. Orders? can' onjy = be delivered in rotation, so; place " your order NQAV: and be .certain. Always. pleased-to supply details.; A. J PAT?J ' JON,- Sheet Metal and Plumbing Works Pembroke Street, Carterton.—Advt •*'