Wairarapa Times-Age FRIDAY, JANUARY 26, 1940. MORE LABOUR ON FARMS?

Wairarapa Times-Age, 26 January 1940, Page 4

Wairarapa Times-Age FRIDAY, JANUARY 26, 1940. MORE LABOUR ON FARMS?

RATHER widely varying opinions on the question of the employment of farm labour appear to be held in different parts of the Dominion. At a meeting' of the Hawke s Baj Farmers’ Union on Wednesday, for example, concern was expressed at the extent to which men experienced in sheep station work were being drawn, and were likely to be drawn, into military service and it was contended that unless men in that category were exempted it would, be impossible to. maintain even the present level of production. A, proportion of sheep farmers and perhaps a considerable majority ol dairy farmers, on the other hand, appear to hold the opinion that, on the existing basis of costs and prices, the employment of. more than a limited amount of labour is not an economic proposition.

In furtherance of the efforts that are being made lo secure an increase in primary production as a measure ol war policy and economy, the Masterton District Council, ol Primary .1 roduetion is going ' comprehensively into the question of the employment of additional labour on farms. Some two thousand inquiry forms have been, circulated to district 1 armors asking them whether they are prepared to employ additional labour if it is made available. There appears as yet to have been a rather halting response to this inquiry. The nature of the replies made has not been disclosed, but. it is known I hat a good many farmers look doubtfully on the proposal to employ additional labour and that some of them consider it impracticable to do so.

Not only from a national standpoint, hut in the interests of farmers individually, it. seems very desirable that the whole question, of the expansion of farm employment and production should be investigated as thoroughly as possible. As. a stop in. tliht direction all farmers should be very willing to fill in and return the forms issued by the Council of Primary Production. In. order that war needs and demands may be met, it is mi doubtedly necessary that farm production should be increased to the greatest extent, that is practicable. I 'll imately. problems of after-war readjustment will have to be faced, but as the Wairarapa Provincial President of the Farmers’ Union (Mr Hugh Morrison) has suggested, il.'is likely that the British Government, when it. comes to fix post-war import quotas, will take reasonable account of the efforts that have been made in this country and in other Dominions to satisfy the war time needs of the United Kingdom.

In any case it is advisable that the existing position should be dealt with in a methodical way. There is nothing to be said for allowing matters to drift. Even if farmers are convinced that the employment of additional labour is impracticable, they should fill in and return the forms circulated by the Council of Primary Production.

Apart from the national and .Imperial call that is now being made, it is very much in the interests of farmers themselves that they should go carefully into the question of increasing production by employing additional labour. In a realistic examination of the position full account has to be taken of overhead costs which must in any case be met. That total costs at present, are very heavy in relation to returns does not necessarily mean that net returns cannot be maintained or increased by employing additional labour and increasing the volume of production.

A point of some importance emphasised by the District Council of Primary Production in observations published the other day was that a farm producing at maximum will improve, whereas if a farmer tries to mark time deterioration mustfollow. Tn that respect, it was urged, the use of labour to keep the farm in good, heart, provides some ultimate return.

These questions find others need to bo examined iii light of much fuller information than is meantime available. Farmers will be doing something to that, end by filling in and returning the forms issued by the District Council of Primary Production. All that can be asked of farmers of course is that they should define the position as it appears to them individually, on the basis of their practical experience.