Wairarapa Times-Age TUESDAY, OCTOBER 19, 1943. LABOUR FOR LAND INDUSTRY.

Wairarapa Times-Age, 19 October 1943, Page 2

Wairarapa Times-Age TUESDAY, OCTOBER 19, 1943. LABOUR FOR LAND INDUSTRY.

TT is rather extraordinary that farming' industry, though in time of war as in time of peace it is certainly second to none in importance, is not rated as essential under the special war regulation of industry at present in force in this country. Phis presumably is due to apprehensions entertained by farmers and their organisations that the industry would be subjected to undue Governmental and official interference if it were declared essential. Against any freedom thus obtained, however, theie are to be set somewhat- serious disadvantages, notably in the fact- that under the control of manpower at present in force, men cannot be directed compulsorily into employment save in an industry which has been formally declared essential.

In these circumstances, the problem of relieving the shortage of labour on farms, which appears to be becoming more and more a subject of complaint, evidently does not lend itsell easily to solution. Tn many instances, though not, it is stated, universally, exceptional difficulty in finding workers willing to accept employment is being experienced by farmers whose holdings are situated at a considerable distance from a centre of population Taking account of the abnormal shortage and.widespread demand for labour that arc inevitable during the war period, if is obvious that organised and purposeful action is necessary if the genuinely urgent needs of farming industry are to be met.

How far these needs are from being met at present was indicated pointedly in some observations by the chairman of the Wairarapa Primary Production Council (Mr R. \\ . Kebbell) reported in our news columns yesterday. Mr Kebbell spoke o the emergency need for labour that arose, for instance, when a farmer or farm worker met with an accident-, or had to go into hospital. Formerly, with a small pool of men available, it had been possible to meet emergency demands of this kind, but now it was becoming difficult or impossible to do so. Mr Kebbell mentioned a case in which he had been unable to find anyone to replace a dairy farmer, milking 40 cows, who had to go to hospital for an operation.

This can only be called a deplorable condition of affairs. On every ground of humanity, and of jinblic as well as private interest, provision most certainly should be made for the replacement of a farmer, or essential farm worker incapacitated by sickness or accident. The whole question of the supply of farm labour in existing circumstances calls lor immediate examination and action.

Au effective lead in the matter perhaps should he looked for rather from the Farmers’ Union than from the Government or its subordinate agencies. If, in spite of the difficulties now being experienced, it is considered inadvisable to have farming declared an essential industry, so that it would share in the controlled direction of manpower, the alternative presumably is to deal with the matter by methods of voluntary organisation, taking equitable account, in their order of urgency, of the needs to be met. In the extent to which it is possible for them to do so, farmers should get together with a view to securing at least the minimum allocation of labour needed to carry on their industry, and they certainly should make full use to that end of the organisation of which a large proportion of them/are members.