LABOUR SHORTAGE

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 16, 3 February 1937, Page 15

LABOUR SHORTAGE

Taranaki Farmers To Reduce Herds EMPLOYEES WANTED Tbe Bbortage of farm labour in tbe Dominion bas bepn tbp aubject of muob discussion between farmers and tbe Government of late. It was reported at a meeting in Wanganui reeently tbat tbe South Taranaki Provinciaj Exeeutive of tbe union had reeently submitted a questionaire to members on tbe subject of farm labour and 135 replies were received. "Of tbis number 104 employ l-.bour," a summary of tbe position stated, "and 45 state.d tbat tbey did not have suffieient and satisfactory labour at present. . Tbe opinion of tbose replying to tbe questionaire is that 71 additional employ ees. would be | required to work tbeir farms efiiciently. ! There were 27 cases of 'wives assisting in the milking sbed and 26 cases wbere children under 15 years of agc assisted | witb tbe milking." Questionaire. ! Acreage covered: 20,471, average j farm of 151 .acre.g. ; Mixed farms, 18; dairying, 17. Number of cows milked, 9072; average, 75. ; Number of milkers, 396. i Do you employ labourf — 31 replied no ; 104 yes. | Have you suffieient and satisfactory ; labour at presentf — 45 replied no; 84 yes, and six did not know. Does your wife work in the sbed? — s 27 replied yes. i How many children under 15 assist with tbe milking? — 26. Since January (1936) nave any employees left your employ?— 46 replied yes, 37 no. Would you prefer to employ married labour if tbe Government would assist witE tbe housing? — 46 replied yes, and 89 no. In response to a request to comment on tbe labour position generally, most . of tbose replying could be summarised as saying: ''We will reduce herda so as to require less labour." Many stgte that employces prefer a balf-day between milkings. Public Works cojnpetition creates difficulty in obtaining suitable labour for improvements. Youth labour is preferred owing to lower cost, but tbis, it is considered, would impair tbe efficiency of production.