FARM LABOUR

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 95, 15 January 1918, Page 8

FARM LABOUR

GETTING THE HARVEST HOME, Reports that are reaching Wellington from the country districts indicate that the position with regard to harvest labour is proviug easier than had been anticipated. The various branches of the Farmers' Union\ are not being pressed for harvest hands, and the Labour Department is finding that it has men in hand. It appears that most of the fanners, expecting a severe shortage of labour at harvest time, have made their arrangements accordingly, and by increasing their own burdens, co-operating with their neighbours, and making use of members of their own families, they have been able to carry on. Shearing appears to be proceeding quite normally in most of the districts. ■ "The country'has adapted itself to war conditions wonderfully well," said a visitor to Wellington yesterday. "Many men are working in a way that imposes a serious strain upon them, owing to the enlistment of their sons and male employees, but they are able to keep the places going. Production is certainly not as large as it would be if we had more labour, but on the other hand prices are high. There is less difficulty with the harvest than we anticipated, and apparently there will be no need for any special Government action this season."