FARM OUTPUT

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20084, 2 November 1939, Page 6

FARM OUTPUT

SURVEYS ARRANGED LABOUR REQUIREMENTS DISTRICT COUNCILS MELTING IN GISBORNL j Surveys are being arranged in elis- , tricts throughout the Dominion in regard to the availability of labour for the maintenance and increase of primary production. I During the past few weeks, arrangements have been made in Gisborne to hold a meeting of representatives iof all organisations associated with primary production for the purpose of establishing a district council in conI junction with the National Council of ;Primary Production, and this meeting | will be held to-morrow afternoon, i In a press statement released io-day, hit is stated that one of the principal j functions of the National Council of

I i Primary Production will be to meet I the farm labour requirements in the various districts, and as a step in this direction the council has asked the district councils to arrange for a survey to be made in their territories. ■ ! Placing of Workers | -It is suggested that these surveys I should be made with the co-operation I of the various producers' orgonisaIjtions, and should include:— | (a) The number of cowboys, ploughI men. shepherds, rouscabouts, etc., reI enured; the wages offering for the jobs 1 concerned; the accommodation proEl vided and any other particulars of 1 conditions. 1 (b) The number of farmers who I would employ married men if they I-could arrange to erect or to provide I j accommodation for them. | (c) Whether or no! farmers are P| willing to take inexperienced men and !*• i teach ;hem.

District committees have been asked to arrange for the setting up of a sub-committee, consisting of representatives of ihe New Zealand Workers' Union, farmers' organisations, young farmers' clubs and the placement service to meet and consider the results of the survey. The New Zealand Workers' Union and the placement officer should endeavour to fill the positions ottered from the supply of labour available in the district or, so far as the placement service is concerned, from the supply available in other districts which is not required there. *> When, it is evident that the shortage of labour cannot be overcome by the steps suggested above, immediate notification should be made to the labour organisers, Council of Primary Production, Box 715, Wellington, who will endeavour to take further steps to remedy the position. Seasonal Labour It is suggested by the national

council that seasonal labour be dealt with in the same way, but the following additional suggestions are made in regard to it—(a) Young farmers' clubs have suggested that they may be able to provide gangs for shearing or other work. This possibility should be investigated. (bj .Local organisations are asked to urge farmers to try to arrange "runs" for shearers as far as possible and to suggest to farmers, particularly smaller farmers in the South Island who have open woolled sheep, to endeavour to obtain the services of shearers from stations on the higher country who may be idle while the line woolled sheep are drying.. In view of the fact that (here is a strong possibility of a shortage of shearers this year, it will be necessary that all possible steps be taken to make the fullest possible use of the shearers available. It should be pointed out to farmers that, if they are willing to keep in touch, with stations which are

relatively handy and to provide transport, it may be possible quite often to obtain the services of shearers while they are waiting for such sheep to dry.