PRIMARY PRODUCTION.

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

PRIMARY PRODUCTION.

it (To the Editor.) 1 V Sin—Once upon a time I used ‘lO , think that the great problem of the I farmer was costs. I still think it is i] vital, but. am now beginning to see i: that. it takes second place to labour. 2 This is going to be the big problem next season. The Public Works policy, and the conditions of pay and or work, are going to make it a Very difficult matter to get skilled labour on farms. The producer, when he gets the guaranteed price, may be able to pay more, but he could never hope to give the same hours and other coh—ditlons, and the result will be the steady drift of men from farms to ‘. these other jobs. I] The pusition will be more compli— . eated later on. The man wanting help I] in the milking shed may be able to hey i a good wage, and those who do not I so in for milking,r will be unable to I compete. Any farm hands available ii will promptly move from other places I to a dairy farm and get the higher wage. People are conlldent that when I wages and conditions are better ‘ there will be ample labour available 1 .in the country. They may be earnest i 3 in hoping so, but of course they‘can ' produce no prool‘. The coming season . will put all theories to the test. Mr ‘ Semple will have no trouble in setting all the men he wants, and he has I mentioned 19,000 as possible, but ifl that development deprives the primary 1 producers of the labour they require. ‘ what will he the effect on produc~ ‘ 1 um? i It appears to me that the politician is not looking at the thing from the] right angle. The prosperity of New chiand does not depend on its public works, but it does depend on its primary industries, and that is where the labour can be economically em—ployed. That, then, should be the ‘ line of approach; but as a cold fact it is not being followed. It will take some time for the effects to be seen. , but they will be, that is certain—l am, etc., ANGUS ABERDEEN. ‘ Morrlnsville, May A. ___ ‘1