FARM LABOUR

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 10, 27 January 1937, Page 3

FARM LABOUR

Oui Own Correspondent.)

Shortage Mostly in Dairy Industry WAIPUKURAU VIEWS

(From

WAIPUKURAU, Last Night. Farm labour was discussed at a meeting of tbe provincial executive of tbe Hawke's Bay brancb of tbe Farmers' Union at Waipukurau this afternoon. Tbe president said be boped tbat if tbe Government did fix tbe wages for workers on sbeep farms tbey would do aa tbey bad done in tbe dairying industry — take over tbe farmers.' products and give tbem a guaranteed price. He expressed a fear tbat a fixed wage would sbortly become a fact. As regards tbe actual sbortage of farm labour, it appeared to be tbe general feeling of the meeting that tbe sbortage was by no means as acute in the sheep-farming districts as in tbe dairying district. The meeting resolved to reply to an inquiry by tbe Dominion executive to this effect and also to question Mr Begley, of tbe Heretaunga Dairy Co., regarding the situation on dairy farms in tbe district. A questionnaire sent out by the Soutb Taranaki provincial executive of tbe Farmers' Union in regard to the sbortage of farm labour reveals the following: — Of 135 xeplies reeeived, 104 farmers employed labour, and of tbat nuihber 45 stated tbat tbey did not have sufficient and satisfactory labour at present. It was estimated that 71 additional employees were required to work tbeir farms efficiently. Tbere were 27 cases wbere wives were assisting in tbe shed and 26 cases wbere children under 15 years of age assisted with the milbfag.