WORK ON FARMS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 13 December 1943, Page 4

WORK ON FARMS

EMPLOYMENT OF YOUNG TERRITORIALS COMPLAINTS & CRITICISM. WAIRARAPA FARMERS' UNION RESOLUTION. “That this executive is of the firm opinion that Territorial labour is not able'to cope with heavy work on hay presses and asks that adult and skilled labour be immediately made available and be billeted out,” was a resolution passed at today’s meeting of the Wairarapa Provincial Executive of the Farmers’ Union. The meeting discussed at length a complaint that the Territorials were not working hard. Mr L. Sutton, contractor, Mr R. W. Kebbell, chairman of the Wairarapa Primary Production Council and Major R. Selby, officer commanding the local camp, addressed the meeting. PERFORMANCE & PAY. Mr Sutton said the trouble lay in the rate of pay. Men could not be expected to work hard for 7s 6d per day, plus 5 per cent bonus after eight hours’ work. His gang said they did not want to work after 8 hours. The soldiers were not playing their part and he did not blame them. Mr Sutton said that so far this season he had baled only half the hay he had put through in the same period last year. Last year a local farmer and regular soldiers, in days, had handled 1,200 bales of hay. Today, with the same number of . men, in two days 800 bales were pressed. A gang of soldiers pressed 200 bales of hay in a day and after they knocked off at 4 o'clock a scratch gang of volunteer helpers put through 400 bales. Were it not for his obligations to the farmers he would keep his machines in his shed, said Mr Sutton. I MEN NOT GIVEN A CHANCE. Mr Kebbell said anyone who knew anything about farming would realise that the men were not suitable for contract work, but they were the only i men available. The only way to obtain good results, said Mr Kebbell, was to break the men in slowly. The only complaints had come from Greytown and from Mr Sutton. The young fellows had not been given a chance. They alleged that they had been sworn at and had been given only water to drink. The men had been sickened of the job. Other gangs, said Mr Kebbell had done splendid work. Mr Sutton had a genuine complaint that he could not get the right type of labour, but next month the position would be remedied, when shearers switched over. In his opinion the men did not get the right handling from the start. , Major Selby said the men were ordered to work until 5 p.m. and after that it was open to them to decide how long they worked They could be forced to work seven days a week. The boys came from shops and offices, (etc., and were not hardened. Some had hever handled a rifle or been in camp before. The only complaint had come from Sutton’s gang. The men were on ordinary rations. HAY BURNED AT GREYTOWN. Mr W. G. K. Wiggins said farmers at Greytown were burning hay because they could not get it pressed. Under the award —Is 3d an hour was the rate for unskilled men, yet the Government compelled farmers to pay 2s 6d per hour. Mr N. D. Perry said the men were wasting half their meals because they were so bad that they could not be eaten. Mr W. G. Thomas criticised the quartermaster for the local gangs. The rations mentioned by Major Selby, Mr Thomas said, were far below the usual camp rations. Mr J. H. Bremner said the scheme of Army labour worked well last year. Then, however, there were no restrictions regarding hours of work and the men were billeted out. He did ■ not like the “knock off at five” business. Several other speakers said that after five o’clock the cool of the evening was the best time of the day to work. After further discussion the resolution stated above was passed unanimously. It was decided to send a telegram to Mr McLagan, Minister of Manpower.