LABOUR FOR FARMS

Southland Times, Issue 24870, 9 October 1942, Page 5

LABOUR FOR FARMS

Nelson Proposals (P.A.) NELSON, October 8. Concern about the lack of provision fox- sufficient labour to harvest crops in the district was expressed by members of the Nelson Provincial Executive of the Farmers’ Union. It was resolved that the Minister of Defence be asked to release men from camps by the day, either singly or in parties, in order to assist in all classes of harvesting in districts without military camps, bivouac camps to be established. Farm labour problems were also discussed by the Nelson Primary Production Council, which decided to write to the Minister of Education setting out the necessity for extending the school holidays in order to release senior pupils and teachers to assist in harvesting. Large numbers of senior pupils could be employed on seasonal work among hops, tobacco, fruit and pea picking. The district man-power officer stated that the Government youth centre in Wellington had offered to supply several hundred secondary school girls for season work in Nelson in January. However, the matter was deferred until a meeting of representatives of all primary industries next week, when the district's requirements would be ascertained.