LABOUR FOR FARMS

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 189, 27 August 1937, Page 7

LABOUR FOR FARMS

New State Scheme .For Apprenticeships operative in hawke's bay Witb tbe objeet of overcoming tbe sbortage of farm labour tbe State Employment Bureau, at tbe suggestion of tbe New Zealand Earmers i TJnion^ bas put into operation a plan for subsidised apprexiticesbip fof six montbs of youths ffom 18 years to 25 years of age. Eenumeration is to be at awa.Td rates, and tbe first two montbs will be a probationary period. Tbe plan bas been officially designated "Scbeme 4F.M The employing farmer, wbo must conform with tbe xe^ quiremnefs of tbe Agricultural Workers' Act, will xeceive a subsidy .of 17/6 a week fof a man 18 to 29 years of age, and £1 for a man over 20 ye'ars but undef 26 years. A.fter tbe two montbs ' probationary period, it will rest witb tbe farmer to dccide wbetbef tbe employeo is suitable fof tbe work be xequires to be done. . If tbe employee is suitable, tbe farmer will be bound to koep tbe man for ihe femaindOr of tbe apprenticesbxp period (four montbs), but if be disposes of tbe man without valid reaRon after two montbs be may be refused labour tbroUgb tbe bureau., Parmers are not allowed to einploy tbeir Sons, Or, by mutual arrangeinent, einpl6y oue anotber's sons. Tbe worker must produce evidence of age, and during tbe Hix-montbs' appTenticesbip tbe farriior iuiist undOftake to toUcb tbe man seasonal fafiu pfactices in* tbe normal xunning of bis farm and, 'at tho end of tbe period, be will be required to f urnisb tbe worker witb a certif ieate of tbie proficicncy. Any dispute between tbe employer and the worker must be submifted to tbe head officO witb recommendations from tbe nearest Far mers ' Unlon secrefary coucerning tbe colifse bf action tbat sboiild be faken, . Tbe plan was made operative in Hastings Tocently and already a uumber of applu tioiis fof apprentice's bave bedn rceeived frbra fafmefs. Tbere is > some dif&culty, bowever, in seeuring youtbs, especially tbeise under 20 years of * age, but tbe few tbat bave beeri placed to date appcar to be wfell satisfied. Farmefs sbow ' a definife pre«* f erence for tbe younger youths, not becanse 6f tbe lowbf f^ages, but for tbe ; reasou tbat it bas been fquud tbat youths under 20 years of age are* feasief to iraia and more willing to learn thUU those a few years older. Tbe scbefae is beiitg givCu a- trial tbrougbout tbe eOuntry arid applieationS will be recCiVed ttp tb tbe eUd of UCxt moutb.- It is Understbod, bowever, tbaf, sbould tbe scbeme pfove successf ul, it will be persevered witb.