SCARCITY OF FARM LABOR.

Taranaki Daily News, 14 March 1917, Page 5

SCARCITY OF FARM LABOR.

A MATTER THAT IS RECEIVING MUCH ATTENTION. Auckland, Saturday, The scarcity oi farm labor has been receiving considerable attentioQ recently, and in view of extracts from a statement that, this shortage was apparently exaggerated, enquiries were made yesterday as to local opinion on the matter. Captain Colbeck, vice-president, of the Farmers' Union, said; "Any statement tluit a shortage does not exist is absolutely incorrect and misleading. I can hardly understand how any man claiming to be a practical farmer should have any dilliculty in obtaining a position. Certainly as regards ploughmen, there may not lie so great a demand in (lie province as in other branches of farm labor, iar the reason that farmers are not anxioiTsJo break up their land at the present time, preferring to keep it in grass, but competent men are so scarce that farmers are tailing out for them all the time. Of the other class of men, who are constantly shifting about, and who are indiflerent workers, there are large numbers, but the capable man is in .constant demand. The latter can earn from £3 10s to £4 per wee): and found, and farmers are glad to get them at that."

The managers o® several laml agencies were also asked about the matter. They supported the statements of Captain Colbec-k. One manager, speaking from personal experience, said if farmers were prepared to pay hands £3 aud upwards a week, they could get sufficient help.