FARM LABOUR

Wairarapa Times-Age, 7 September 1940, Page 7

FARM LABOUR

DIFFICULTY IN FILLING VACANCIES CONSEQUENT ON MEN BEING CALLED UP. ACCOMMODATION SUBSIDY INCREASED. (By Telegraph—Press Association. I WELLINGTON, This Day. Representatives of the National Council of Primary Production discussed problems confronting primary producers, particularly the provision of sufficient farm labour to meet present requirements, with members of the War Cabinet, the Minister of Labour. Mr Webb, and the Associate Minister of National Service,. Mr Wilson, at a meeting on Thursday night. The Prime Minister, Mr Fraser, stated yesterday that they also dealt with the position likely to arise when the next contin-. gent of men was called up in the ballot to be drawn shortly to bring the Territorial Force up to war establishment, and which would bring the force due to enter camp on October 1 for Territorial training to about 12,000. It was stated that the greatest difficulty was being found in getting suitable farm workers to fill the 702 va; cancies which were recorded on August 30, and that these numbers would increase as the farming season got under full swing. The position would be aggravated by the withdrawal of men for home defence and overseas service, but it was emphasised that members of the farming community had no desire to escape their share of the responsibility of releasing for service those who ought to go. "On the other hand,” said Mr Fraser, “it was shown that there were on the same date-—August 30 —still over -1000 men on Public Works and in other Government departments who during the recent survey had signified their willingness to undertake farm work, bu. the difficulty was that with the calling up of so many single men the vast majority of those who might be available were married men, and many farmers had no suitable accommodation for families.”

It was pointed out that this could be largely overcome by the arrangements already made by the Government, but which were evidently un J known to a large section of the farming community. Mr Fraser said he wished to draw the attention of all farmers who would need additional labour on their farms to the fact that it had just been decided to increase the accommodation allowance to married farm workers, for whom married quarters were not yet available on the farm, to 20s a week instead of the previous payment of 12s 6d weekly. Also, farmers could obtain on application suitable quarters similar to those provided on Public Works for married workers at a cost of only 5s weekly. This was in addition to the subsidies for inexperienced farm workers pr.wicusly announced.

‘Tt is quite evident,” said Mr Fraser, ■‘that the best solution of the farm labour problem is the engagement of married workers, and this will greatly help to solve this recurring difficulty, as such men having homes become definitely settled with their families. “Both employers and employees should realise the necessity of co-oper-ating to meet the difficult situation which has arisen as a result of the war, and which affects all sections, whether employed in primary or secondary industry. I appeal to farmers to take the fullest possible advantage of the financial and other assLt-ati'-’e that has already been made available, and ask for the whole-hearted support of all concerned.”