WINTER WORK

Wairarapa Times-Age, 6 July 1939, Page 7

WINTER WORK

CONFERENCE IN MASTERTON PLACING UNEMPLOYED MEN ON FARMS. LOCAL COMMITTEE SET UP. Willi tbe object of considering proposals whereby unemployed men may be absorbed in work of a productive nature, seventy represent aI i ves of Wairarapa local bodies, Ihe Farmers’ I 'nion. workers, stock and station agents and Government departments attended a conference in the Masterton Municipal Buildings yesterday, at which Mr W. G. Simpson, liaison officer of the Department of Labour (Employment Division) was present. .Mr J. Robertson, M. 8., presided. Mr Simpson outlined the manner In which unemployed men and farmers were affected under the 4B scheme details of which have already been published in the “Times Age.” The meeting approved of the scheme, and a committee was set up to work in conjunction with the local placement officer. The committee consists o! Messrs T. Jordan (Mayor of Master ton). A. B. Martin (chairman, Featherston County Council), H. Bennelt. J. L. Heckler, C. T. Richardson and R. N. Shaw (trade union representative). THE 4B SCHEME. " During the weekend I saw country in the Wairarapa that should be subsidised, and I have recommended that this be done,” said Mr Simpson. "Far mers who are in a financial position to carry out maintenance work should oi course do so, but there are numbers pl farmers willing to do the work if onlj they could obtain the labour necessary.” Under the 4B scheme unemployed men would be placed m work of a productive nature. At present a con ■ siderable amount of work such as grubbing gorse, bush felling, drainage of farm lands, cutting new drains, subdivisional fencing and the like coula be done. Mr Simpson admitted that h was difficult to obtain sufficient lab our. To his mind, he said, the only way of overcoming the problem was to train men for the work. The Labour Department was prepared to subsidise up to 75 per cent any farmer who required to carry out maintenance work, provided the men were given reason able accommodation. The department would guarantee fitness, but not ex perience. All that was required was a little patience, personal help and un derstanding. The men must have accommodation up to Public Works stan dat'd and tools must be provided. CONTRACT CONDITIONS. Trouble might possibly arise with the allocation of the men, said Mr Simpson. If the men did not do the job, then the department was finished with them. They must understand that once having taken a contract they must carry it out. It would be of no use their throwing up a job to come back under the Social Security benefits. Conditions and price, however, must be reasonable.

“If a farmer requires work done, he confers with the State Advances Corporation and the whole job is handled from start to finish by them." said Mr Simpson. "There appears to be plenty of scope with regard to noxious weeds,” he added. Mr J. D. Mitchell: “Is there any way in which the Department can help with transport from the centres so as to eliminate accommodation?” Mr Simpson: "The Department does not undertake that obligation. Of course the price of things like that is covered in the contract.” Mr L. Bennie said that when the 4B scheme was introduced it -was a wonderful boom for the unemployed and farmer alike. Now, however, it had been strangled by the “means test,” which was, he considered, useless. Under the "means test” those who had nothing got nothing. Personally he would like to see second growth brought under the 50 per cent subsidy, as second growth was perhaps the best means of eradicating noxious weeds. “What about the surveying of blocks of scrub land—who foots the bill?” asked Mr H. Bennett. Mr Simpson: "That point has been raised on numerous occasions and I am not sure yet, how it is to be overcome. I know that farmers object to paying, an outsider to do this work, as in the main they have a fair idea cf its acreage. That difficulty, however, will be overcome." WORKING ORGANISATION. Mr J. M. Laing: "It is rather unjust tb stop a man from obtaining furthci work under the scheme if he leaves a particular position. It is not fair to expect experienced men to carry along inexperienced workers. They won't do it.” Mr Simpson: “If a man refuses to do a job, provided all conditions are in order and everyone else is satisfied, then this scheme can’t do much for him.” Mr B. Roberts, M.P., suggested that if there was a good leader with the right of selection, he would take good men to the job. In reply to a question, Mr Simpson said that no subsidy was available for boundary fences. Mr Roberts asked whether labour could be subsidised to have lime put on the land. Considerable labour was involved in the transport of lime, and, if something could be done in this con i nection it would be of great benefit to the farmer and the community as a whole. Mr A. B. Martin asked what the 75 per cent subsidy was based on. Mr Simpson said that it was for any maintenance work with the exception o± manuring. “I realise that the material is the big item in fencing, but sudsidised labour will be of some help, said Mi Simpson, in answer to a question as to whether material was included in the fencing subsidy. Mr Simpson further stated that only registered unemployed men would be available under the scheme. The place ment office would be the centre from which the farmers would draw their labour. References and particulars of the qualifications of men would be ob j tainable from the placement officer. , FUNCTIONS OF COMMITTEE. | Mr Jordan considered that the local i committee should consider what work was necessary. "We could easily find a, committee capable of handling the con-'

tracts under this scheme," he said, "and the committee's judgment could be accepted by the Department.” Mr Simpson: "The Department is definitely opposed to that. It has been mentioned before. I can assure you there will be no delay as far as the Department is concerned." Mr Jordan: "I take it the committee will be required to settle any differences on which practical opinion is required?” Mr Simpson: "Yes. The committee will also confer with the Social Security Department." Mr Martin: "Would all the contracts go before this committee?" Mr Simpson: "No.” Mr Simpson was accorded a Vote of thanks.