YOUTHS ON FARMS

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 159, 23 July 1937, Page 3

YOUTHS ON FARMS

-^Preis Association.)

Subsidised Employment To Be Made Available PERI0D OF SIX M0NTHS

(By Telegraph

WELLINGTON, Last Night; The Labour Depaxtment xecently invited the New Zealand Farmers' Union to outline any contemplated labour difficulty in respect of the coming season in the hope that mutu&l discussion would reveal an acceptabla method of xueeting the position. The union representatives reported that though the season has not yet commenced, a heavy demand for labour is evident, and is regarded as evidence that a later numerical shortage would inevitably occur. The representatives suggested that to'avoid an undesirable position and at the same . time enable a number of young men to acquire some knowledge of farming operations instead of being compelled to depend upon sustenance, farmers be given some incentive to engage them at the rates of remuneration laid down in tlie Agrieultufal Workers Act, 1936. The acting-Minister of Labour (Hon. P. C. Webb) to-day stated that the Government was very pleased to receive the suggestion, which would improve the position of young men between the ages of 18 and 25 who were registered and eligible for relief, and, it is hoped, lead to permanent employment in many cases. The present proposal, of course, was more to meet an anticipated emergency than to represent Government poliey in a long-range programme. The problem of providing for an adequate supply of labour to meet the requirements of our primary industries has been receiving the attention of the Government continuously since it assumed office, and the importance of this question is fully appreciated. Concrete proposals are at present in course of preparation, designed to encourage boys to. take up farming as their life's work, but to be successful such a scheme must be cpmprehensive, commencing with vocational guidance in the schools, post-primary training where practicable, some years of practicai Work as farin assist&nts and trainees and, last but not least, some outlook in life as an ultimate goal to be aimed at. It has, therefore, been decided that farmers willing* to employ inexperienced but otherwise snitable registered and eligible young men between the ages of 18 and 25 years will be reimbursed over a geriod of six months generally to the extent of the sustenance allowance which otherwise would be payable. A strict condition of the plan will be that statutory remuneration will be paid and reasonable livitig conditions and opportunity for practicai training offered. The conditions of the plan provide that youths registering for relief after this date must/produce satisfactory evidence of age, that subsidy-shall not be payable to any farmex who is considered to have dispensed with ■ regular labour to take advantage of the subsidy, and that on completion of the sixmonthly engagement the farmer shall supply a certificate showing the range of duties performed by the candidate and the manner in which they were earried out. Tli^ Farmers' Union has offered the assistance of its branches in investigating disputes and submitting to the Department a recommendation as to the action to be taken; this evidence of a desire to co-operate with the Government has been gladly accepted.