Farm Labour Shortage

Manawatu Times, Volume 62, Issue 24, 29 January 1937, Page 9

Farm Labour Shortage

DISCUSSION IN WAN GAIN UI. WANGANUI, Jan. 28. * ‘We can’t do anything. Let it go until it bursts.’' Thus spoke Mr J. R. Franklin yesterday when the subject of farm labour was raised at a meeting of the Wanganui Provincial Executive of the New Zealand Farmers' Union. Head office of the union is concerning itsell with the reported shortage of labour in various parts of the Dominion, and in receipt of an offer of co-operation from the workers’ union, has requested provinces to obtain data and submit reports. Provinces have been asked to confer with labour unions in regard to supplying the demand. Mr Gregor McGregor (Waverley) said that it was almost impossible to get men for scrub-cutting. Fencing posts were hard to obtain. The timber was there but the labour was not. Mr G. R. Leach (Westmere) said that he knew of cases where young men were leaving farms to go to railway works. The president (Mr T. Currie) said that in cases of this sort special names and places should be handed to the secretary who could take the matter up with Wellington. The Minister of Public Works (Hon. R. Semple) had said that if he got specific instances of men leaving work to take up position on the Public Works he would make an example of them. Mr McGregor wanted to know whether reports of that nature would make the farmer who made them a marked man; whether he would be able to get any labour at all afterwards. . It was stated in reply that the farmer’s name need not come into it at all. The whole matter could be handled by the union. The purpose was to get over general statements and get down to something concrete. Shortages of farm labour are to be reported to the provincial secretary in detail. A TARANAKI REPORT. RESULT OF QUESTIONABLE. WANGANUI, Jan. 28. It was reported to the meeting in Wanganui yesterday that the South Taranaki Provincial Executive of the union had recently submitted a questionaire to members on the subject of farm labour and 135 replies were received. 11 Of this number 104 employ l bour,” a summary of the position stated, “and 45 stated that they did not have sufficient and satisfactory labour at present. The opinion of those replying to the questionaire is that 71 additional employees would be required to work their farms efficiently. There w'ere 27 cases of wives assisting in the milking shed and 26 cases where children under 15 years of age assisted with the milking." Questionaire. Acreage covered: 20,471, average farm of 151 acres. Mixed farms, 18; dairying, 17. Number of cows milked, 9072; average, 75. Number of milkers, 396. Do you employ labour?—3l replied no; 104 yes. Have you sufficient and satisfactory labour at present?—ls replied no; 84 yes, and six did not know. Does your wife work in the shed?— 27 replied yes. How many children under 15 assist with the milking?—26. Since January (1936) Have any employees left your employ?—46 replied yes, S 7 no. Would you prefer to employ married labour if the Government would assist with the housing?—46 replied yes, and 89 no. In response to a request to comment on the labour position generally, most of those replying could be summarised as saying: ‘‘We will reduce herds so as to require less labour." Many state that employees prefer a half-day between milkings. Public Works competition creates difficulty in obtaining suitable labour for improvements. Youth labour is preferred owing to lower cost, but this, it is considered, would impair the efficiency of production.