SHORTAGE OF FARM LABOUR.

Taranaki Central Press, Volume IV, Issue 329, 9 January 1937, Page 6

SHORTAGE OF FARM LABOUR.

WAIKATO REPORT.

Definite Lack Of Experienced Men. Press Association—Copyright. Hamilton, Last Night. The committee set up by the Waikato sub-provincial executive of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union to investigate the farm labour question and to suggest means of meeting the position tabled the following report today:— (1) “There is no shortage of casual workers for harvesting or development works. (2) “That where an organisation exists as in the Te Awamutu and Ohaupo areas under a relieving farm manager scheme there: is no shortage of reliable and experienced men to take charge or assist on farms .where a farmer wishes to take a holiday. (3) “There is a definite shortage, however, of experienced farm labourers and a pronounced shortage of youths and in many cases inability to obtain labour, coupled with a decided reluctance on the part of men to undertake this class of wo-lc, has caus/ed considerabde iijardshjp to farmers and in many cases caused dairymen to reduce the size of their herds. The difficult labour problem, coupled with the recent in wool values on farms where it is possible to do so to further reduce herds and replace with sheep.” An earlier message from Christchurch stated that the Minister of Public Works, Hon. R. Semple, was emphatic in his declaration that there was little in any talk of shortage of farm labour. “Our experience convinces us,” he said, “that there is a good deal of political propaganda, about this talk.” “I am satisfied that farmers anywhere in the vicinity of Public

Works Deparment construction camps who wanted labour would have had no difficulty in securing it, for there were plenty of men willing to accept such work,” said the Minister. “A farmer told me the other day in the North Island that I should take no notice of the talk about difficulty in securing farm labour. Ha said it was nothing more nor less than political propaganda, and that, the Farmers’ Union was just giving the new Leader of the Opposition, Mr. Adam Hamilton, something to talk about.”