FARM LABOUR

Evening Star, Issue 23382, 27 September 1939, Page 6

FARM LABOUR

PROVIDING VOLUNTEER BATTALIONS SUGGESTION FROM JUNIOR CHAMBER OF COMMERCE TO INCREASE PRODUCTION A novel scheme for increasing primary production in the Dominion was propounded by the Junior Chamber ot Commerce last evening. The proposal embodied the principle of creating volunteer battalions of farm labourers to assist farmers in the more intensive cultivation of the soil, thus providing a greater surplus of goods for shipment overseas. The proposal was later placed before the council of the senior chamber, but came in for a certain amount of criticism. largely because of ladk of detail in the scheme in its present torm, although no objection was raised to its being sent forward to the Government for consideration. It is suggested that a force of 20,000 men could bo formed to work two ebrht-hour davs per week, and, while the Junior Chamber foresees many difficulties in its proposals, it firmly believes that out of its constructive idea some scheme might be evolved to solve the labour troubles of the farmer at the present time. With this end in view, members unanimously decided at a meeting last night to forward the proposals to the Council of Primary Production, which will meet in Wellington on Friday. PROBLEM OF COSTS. The scheme originated from a suggestion by Mr L. J. Fahey, a member of the executive, and a sub-committee was appointed to bring forward a report to last night’s meeting. The report stated that it had been demonstrated to the New Zealand public that vital assistance to Britain throughout the present war could be given by the production and supply of increased foodstuffs and other necessary materials —almost equal in importance to the provision of armed forces. It would readily be agreed that the Dominion would permit of much more intensive cultivation than existed to-day, the country oeing farmed on the colonial method as opposed to the European system. “ Labour costs are probably one ot the principal factors - preventing more intense cultivation, with its consequent increased production per acre,” the re T port continues. “ and could this difficulty be surmounted, a very desirable surplus of primary produce for shipment overseas could be found over and above the normal surplus. To this end, the suggestion is put forward that volunteer labour battalions could be formed bv the Government throughout the Dominion. They could be properlyorganised on parallel lines to their military counterparts, and could be expertly directed into productive channels consisting principally of agriculture on existing cultivated land leased by the Government for the purpose, and where economic—since no wages are involved of the bringing into production of waste and new land.”

CALL TO PATRIOTISM. Such an effort, it is contended, is a national and, perhaps, an Imperial necessity, and it is considered that volunteers would readily offer their leisure time free provided the fruits of their labour went to the proper source. As a basis it is suggested that two clays per weelk could be given by the force—say, Friday and Saturday, involving as they would portion of the individual’s leisure time and portion of his employer’s time. This would thus cal' upon the patriotism of both the worker and the employer and would not necessarily hinder the progress of normal industry and commerce. It is understood that there are between 100,000 and 150.000 men in New Zealand of military age, and, were it possible to obtain from these ranks a force of 25,000 men willing to work two eight-hour clays per week, a total of 400,000 working hours would result, which could be expected tb show some increase in agricultural production. The Junior Chamber contends that effort could be focussed directly on the production of suitable foodstuffs, etc., for shipment overseas, and indirectly on the production of foodstuffs for local consumption in substitution for that which could be freed for shipment overseas and on the production of extra stock feed in order to increase the carrying capacity of sheep and dairy farms, thereby increasing the available surplus of meat, wool, dairy produce, etc. CO-OPERATION NEEDED, In the carrying out of the whole scheme the co-operation of farmers’ organisations and the Department of Agriculture would be essential for the selecting of available land and the directions of effort. It is suggested • that the department’s officials could direct the whole scheme. The proposal would also require the assistance of the Automobile, Association in transporting the men to and from their work, and it is also considered that women’s and Boy Scout organisations would need to be invited to arrange for the supply of necessary food to the workers. The chamber feels confident that these organisations would welcome such an opportunity to show their patriotism, and would feel that they were fighting on some front—from the psychological point of view a not unimportant feature in time of war. VIEW OF SENIORS. The scheme evolved by Mr Fahey was put before the Dunedin Chamber of Commerce at its meeting last night, and met with a considerable amount of criticism, several members expressing the opinion that it was not sufficiently developed as regards detail, and also that in its present form it was not practicable. The Junior Chamber was commended for haying brought forward a scheme which, it was stated, ” possessed the germ of an idea,” but it was pointed out that unskilled workers on the land would not be able to achieve much in the way of useful production, and, moreover, would be a liability rather than an asset to the farmers. No opposition to the scheme being sent forward to the Government was raised, but fears were expressed that in its present indefinite form it would not receive the close attention of the Government, which was at the moment fnllv engaged in matters of grave national importance.