Flotsam and Jetsam.

Maoriland Worker, Volume I, Issue 6, 20 February 1911, Page 22 (Supplement)

Flotsam and Jetsam.

(By THE BEACHCOMBER.)

The man on the land—Do we need emigrants ?

What about work in winter ?

I append one clipping from a weekly paper, which I consider worthy of attention : —

IMPORTATION OF FARM LABOURERS. ACTION BY AUCKLAND FARMERS' UNION.

[Pcs Press Association.!

AUCKLAND, January 19

The Auckland Executive of the Farmers'""Union has decided to undertake the importation of farm labourers on its own account. The subject of shortage of workers was raised at to-day's meeting of the Executive in a letter from the secretary of the Cleveland branch, in which he drew attention specially to the difficulty in obtaining workers for dairy farms. In one instance, he said, a farmer, who owned eighty cows, was left to milk them single-handed at Christmas l time, and after a couple of days gave it up in disgust, and sold his herd. In another case, a child of thirteen had to milk sixteen cows twice a day.

The members oi : the JExecutive discussed the matter at some length. One of the aspects of the question was that the dearth of workers prevented farmers from expanding their energies, restricting them to small outputs, and preventing the fiill development of the capacity of the land. Mr. Joseph .Flanagan, a member who takes an active interest in questions of this kind, stated that he was about to make a trip to England, and he would undertake to secure as many English or Scotch agricultural workers' as positions could be found for. It was immediately determined that Mr. Flanagan should act as the Union's emigration officer a and that steps should'be taken to communicate with farmers and find out what definite arrangements would be made as to employing men brought out. In the meantime, the executive will find out from the Government and the steamship companies what facilities can be obtained.