LABOUR FOR FARMS

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Volume 81, Issue 17, 13 October 1937, Page 13

LABOUR FOR FARMS

Will the Subsidy Scheme Succeed? FARMERS' POSITION Duriug the whole of the Jast dairying season we heard the most eontradicS tory statemonts concerning the sliortage of farm labour. states the New Zealand Dairvman. State. .ents made by producer representatives were hotly contiested bv members of the Government, and there was a general feeling in the minds of the public that the actual position Tegarding the shortago of farm labour was somowhat exaggeratod Whatever may have been said for or against the actual conditions prev>iling in the dairying industry, the fact remains that there was an acute shortage of " experienced ' ' labour, whilo inexperienced labour may have beec pjentiful. Realising this fact, the Government introduced, several montha ago — but really too late in the season to alford an effective trial — a schemo granting a subsidy to farmers employing inexperienced men.' Under the scheme, farmers may apply to certifying officers in the various districts for youths and single inen between the ages of 18 and 25. Such men must be paxd the standard rate of wages, but for a period of six months the employer may claim a subsidy of 17/6 per weelc in the case of youths of 18 and 19 years of age, and of £1 aweek in the case o£ men of 20 to 25 years. In disoussing the scheme, the State placement officer in Auckland, Mr. J. E. EJsbury, explained that there ara plenty of single men available who are suitable and willing to undertake farm work, and are sufficjently intelligent to learn the business of farming if given the opportunity and provided the farmer will show himself to be tolerunt, and patient: With the eommonceinent of the new season such labour should prove highly acceptable, aiid shrtuld afford an excellent opportunity to provide additional farm worker« The average farmer has little time to spare during the busy part of the season to train inexperienced farm hands, but the iirst month or two of the season should give tho average young man sufficient experience in the shed to make himself jjenerally useful and earn his wages. To limit the subsidy to six months, however, is a decided weakness in the Governtner.t scheme, and the period should be e.xtended to at lcast nlne inonths. With a full season 's training, men would become useful farm workers and would experience little difficulty in finding future eniployment. Although the scheme so far proved anything but a success, rnainly becauso it was introduced too late in the season, it has decided merit, and if farmers do not avail themselves of the faciiities offered they can hwrdly blame the GovernmOnt, or anyone else, for any sbortage of labour later in the season. The scheme enables farmers to take on what lUight be termed apprentices at a wage which ap^ears to be i'air and equitable to all parties and, in the long run, should solve the prescnt shortage of experienced farm labour.