RELIEF LABOUR

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 1, Issue 93, 10 December 1931, Page 6

RELIEF LABOUR

TRIALS OF A FARMER WITH UNEMPLOYED LABOUR WHIMS OF HIS TEAM The trials of a farmer, endeavouring to use unemployed labour, were described by a councillor at yesterday's meeting of the Rotorua County Council. In one case he stated, he had taken a young single man, under one of the relief schemes, and had given him work, but after the man had upset a can of cream and done half a day's work, he decided that he did not like the job and returned to the doss-house in Rotorua, where he had already been for some considerable time. After his return, the coiy cillor stated, a member o.f his family saw the man in question, lying under a tree in the Sanatorium grounds with a hook — an employment which appeared to suit him better than farm labour. In another case, the councillor stated, he had endeavoured to obtain a married relief worker to occupy a four-roomed house on one of his properties. The Board would pay this man £1 a week and he ,was prepared to add another £1 for a satisfactory man in addition to supplying free milk and firewood. One man had intimated his intention of taking the job, but after some delay, finally said he would stand down in favour of another man. This man was not suitable, and after further delay, a third relief worker was engaged. This man was put on to ploughing, but did not appear to understand how to handle his team on the corners. The farmer stated that he gave the man a little instruetion on this point ,and then left him to carry on. He noticed, however, that the team was continually stopping while the ploughman inspected the landscape. Finally, the annoyed farmer returned and demanded bluntly what his new employee was about. He was then informed that since the horses appeared to come to a stop and feed their driver thought it well to indulge their whim. The matter finally concluded when the relief worker on the-following day

derveloped a whim of his own, and without troubling to inform his employee, left the job and returned to town, where he has since remained. Another aspect of the position was mentioned by^another councillor, who said he had had an application for work from a youth who had expressed a wish to learn farming. The applieant was not on the unemployed list, but was so keen that he was given a job. "He is one of the best worke^s I ever struck," said the councillor, "a really good bit of stuff. That shows what the boys can do."