FARM LABOUR

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3012, 24 February 1917, Page 12

FARM LABOUR

THE GROWING SHORTAGE. • Heports froni-the country districts continue to indicate a serious shortage of ■ farm labour. "The position is far worse than the authorities appear to'imagine," said a Wairarapa man yesterday. "It is true that farm operations are not at a standstill. The fanners are doing their best to keep things going, and many of them are able to make some use of casual and unskilled labour. But much important work is being left undone, and I believe-that the shortage of efficient farm labour is already affecting production. Farmers are simply forced to 'curtail their operations. They cannot carry on any other way. I see that the area under crop this year has fallen.by over 100,000 acres. That is just what I should have expected^-" A farmer in the Auckland district,' .writing to a friend in Wellington,, has a similar story to tell. "We cannot maintain production if we have not the labour," he says, "and at present we find it ■utterly impossible to get an adequate supply of labour, The shepherds, rouseabouts, bushmeh,. cooks, and so forth are all being drawn in the ballot, and as far as I can 'sea most of them- are accepted for service when they go before the doctors. I cannot get men for love or money, though the wages are good and the work is waiting. Of course a fellow is not going to grumble about inconvenience and overwork in these days, but the simple fact is that under present conditions there is bound 1 to be a decline in production. We farmers cannot'carry on'at the old gait. We must handle a smaller quantity of stock, plough less land, raise fewer lambs, and milk fewer cows. Why does not the Government turn some of the Home Service men into the essential industries?" A third farmer, occupying a farm in one of the dairying districts,' mentions in a letter .that his last son has been drawn in the ballot: and has 'decided to enter camp. "The boy does

not want ine to appeal for him, and so I will let him go," the father. "But from inquiries I have made I am afraid I shall not be able to find a man. to. take his place, and if that is so vrc shall have to sell some cows. The prices are all right just now, but it seems a pity if tho Government really wants cheese- for the soldiers. I hear that something is being done in tho way of organising labour, but surely it is poor economy to take tho skilled -worker off the farm and put in another man who will not be able to do lialf as much. Coal miners and shearers are being exempted. Why not dairy farmers?"

At the Magistrate's Court yesterday morning quite a number of cases were heard dealing with the fly larvae, and convictions recorded. A number of the defendant wtore at a loss ■ to' know where to purchase a proved fly exterminator. Readers will be pleased to know that Wheelband's Exterminator stands as a true fly exterminator, because it gets at the root of tho evil by destroying the larvae of the fly. Mr. ,f. Doyle, Chief Sanitary Inspector, Wellington, says:—"ln the leap sprayed by Wheelband's Exterminator (at the City Council yards), I should say that at least '95 per cent., probably moTe, of the grubs were dead."

Wheelband's Exterminator can be purchased from the local agents, Messrs. Bureh and Co., Ltd., Courtenay Place, or 'Phone 3055. Buy some to-day, and try it as soon as you get home. The ordinary watering pot may be -used for spraying purposes. Bottles especially prepared for use in the house are stocked at all the grocers. North Island Representative: J. Spence Nicol, Harcourt's Buildings, Wellington—Advt.

the Famous Victor Cheese Vat holds pride of place in all up-to-date cheese factories. The demand is very heavy, and orders are being executed in rotation. By placing your order straightway, yo" are assured of early delivery— in any case you should certainly write for full details. A. J. Parton, Sheet Metal and Plumbing Works, Pembrove Street, Carterton.—Advt. , •