SHORTAGE OF LABOUR

Waikato Times, Volume 119, Issue 19878, 6 May 1936, Page 9

SHORTAGE OF LABOUR

WAIPA FARMER’S VIEWS. HIGH 0031's BLAMED. t'i‘imes Reporlmxi 'l‘ii A\\';\.\lL‘TL", Tuesday: The. \'lC\\‘ that the shortage of farm labour was indirectly title to the Kai'— mcrs‘ high costs was expressed by a To Awamuiu farmer when talking to a Times representative this morning. "Men will not go on the farms be—cause the wages are not sufficient for the work they have to do," he said. “But the farmer is not altogether to blame for this. The high prices of farm materials increase the farmers' costs. and he is unable to otter good wages for employees, with the result that he is obliged to let his wife and children assist in the cowshed." The speaker said the farmers were bettEr off in 191-2 than they are to—day. despite the fact that at present they are producing ten times as much of! the same land as formerly. An indication of the increase in the farmer‘s coats may be gained from the fact that prior to the War he could purchase a reaper and binder for £3O, the same article to-day cashing about £BO. Mowers, which used to cost £ls. have risen in price to £32. A small hand-saw used to cost 55 6d. but now the same article, produced by the same iii-m, cannot be purchased [under 12s 6d. "With up—to—date mass production methods the factories may be able to make these farm necessities much more cheaply than in former years. but the farmer is certainly not getting any benefit from the improved condi—tions," said the speaker. “For that matter the factories themselves are not deriving a great deal of beneiit from the increased prices either. In—stead of each farmer having his own machine, nowadays four or five farmers club in together and buy one machine for use among all of them. Every farmer is supposed to concrete his cowshed, but how can he do it with cement at £6 105 a ton?" con—cluded the farmer.