LABOUR FOR FARMS

Evening Post, Volume CXXVI, Issue 156, 30 December 1938, Page 4

LABOUR FOR FARMS

THE HOUSING ASPECT

ISOLATION BRINGS DISCONTENT

(By Telegraph—Presß Association.)

AUCKLAND, December 29

"There is a greater supply of labour arranged for farmers to draw on than has been the case for many years," stated the Minister of labour (the Hon. P. C. Webb) tonight. "Unfortunately, some farmers in need of labour are seriously handicapped through lack of suitable accommodation for men. It is the Government's intention, in the near future to make money available to farmers at a low rate of interest to build accommodation for employees." According to the latest advice received from the Employment Division of .the Department in -Hamilton, Mr. Webb said, there was sufficient labour available to meet the demands of farmers for harvesting work. Mr. Webb said that when young men were sent on to.farms where accommodation was poor and social surroundings such as to place them virtually an isolation, without contact even with the farmer's family, discontent rapidly developed and the men jsoon left their jobs. His officers informed, him that where accommodation i was" good, and farm workers could en--1 joy a reasonable degree of social life I little difficulty: was experienced m pro- | viding: Xabour. , . 1 "Till such time as accommodation on [farms can be brought up to a reasoni able standard of comfort," Mr. Webb concluded, "it will be difficult to mi duce young .men to remain at farm work. If farmers would co-operate with local placement officers and give them an idea of the number and class of men they required officers would, immediately get to work in an en-, deavpur to meet their requirements.