FARM LABOUR SUPPLY

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 161, 7 June 1940, Page 5

FARM LABOUR SUPPLY

MINISTER KEEN TO HELP. TRANSFER OF MEN. That the Minister for Labour (Hon. P. C. Webb) was anxious to meet farmers in every possible way in the effort to keep production at the highest possible level and to do the utmost for overcoming the shortage of labour for the industry was an assurance given by Mr W. G. Simpson, liaison officer of the Employment Division of the Labour Department, when lie gave an address on the Government’s scheme for subsidising wages to the sheepfarmers’ conference at Massey College yesterday. While answering questions at the close of his address, Mr Simpson, dt the suggestion of the Director-General of Agrictulure (Mr A. H. Cockayne) indicated that men now in the employ of the Public Works Department were being classified, and that those who were skilled farm workers would be reabsorbed in the farming industry. The men who were compiling the register, he added, expressed amazement at the number of shepherds and other skilled farm workers who were now on public works. Saying that his object in addressing the conference was to explain how the subsidy schemes, particularly 4F scheme —which provided for a subsidy of 80s a week for single men over 20 years of age, with an additional allowance of 12s 6d for married men—affected farmers, Mr Simpson also stressed the value of the 4B scheme; w’hich allowed the farmer, a 75 per cent, subsidy on development work carried out under contract, and which had now been extended in special cases to include maintenance work. He had just returned from a visit to the Gisborne district, he said, and lie had found the 4B scheme working very well there. Farmers who had taken advantage of it had expressed their entire satisfaction with tile commonsense way in which the law was being administered. The Minister was very anxious that producers he met in every reasonable way. USEFUL WORK FIRST.

“The Government is very anxious to close down every No. 13 scheme,” said Mr Simpson. “It is not particularly keen to have men working round the cities and towns when there is more important work to be done.” For instance, the department now undertook to subsidise 50 per cent, of the labour cost of distributing fertiliser by hand. Appealing to farmers to fake advantage of the 4F scheme, Mr Simpson said there were hundreds of men now coming off public works who might not be skilled farmhands but were physically strong and capable of adapting themselves to any kind of useful work. Replying to a questioner, Mr Simpson said the Government was determined to use men in the channel they could most usefully fill. Replying to Mr J. E. Hewitt, who said it would take a year to train an inexperienced man, and who suggested that the enlistment of skilled farmhands be prevented altogether, Mr Simpson said he did not agree that inexperienced men were useless. They could, if adaptable —and most New Zealanders were —be of the greatest assistance on any farm. Regarding the prevention of the enlistment of skilled farmhands, experience showed that if a man wanted to go to the war it was impossible to prevent him. He had known of cases where men de.liverately went on sustenance and then enlisted as labourers. The chairman (Professor G. S. Peren): After all, we are a democracy. Appealing for co-operation wifli the Minister, Mr Simpson said he had never known the Minister turn down any reasonable suggestion made by farmers if the work involved was useful. If there was any reasonable criticism of the subsidy scheme the Minister would consider it. Replying to a suggestion by Mr A. K. Stewart that “the 40-hour week policy had made loafers of many men.” and that it was responsible for the present shortage of farm labour. Mr Simpson said it was little use talking about past events; they had to consider the emergency that had arisen to-day and the bigger emergency that might possibly arise to-morrow. Mr Stewart said if reliable men were forthcoming there was plenty of work to be done.

“The training of older men now on public ’ works should bo regarded bv farmers as part of their war effort.” said Professor Peren. The time might come when there would be a shortage of fighting men, and skilled farm work-' ers would then have to join the fighting forces. The farmer in every country was up against the same problem. The alternative was the employment of land girls (laughter), and farmers might not then be in such a happy position. An officer of the department who attended the meeting to give further information supplied the necessary forms to a number of interested farmers.