HELPING FARMERS

Waikato Times, Volume 125, Issue 20923, 30 September 1939, Page 4

HELPING FARMERS

ASSISTANCE ON LAND TRANSFER OF WORKERS GOVERNMENT PROPOSALS One means by which it is understood the Government intends to take to assist primary production is the transfer of many men from the No. 13 employment scheme to development work on farms under another State subsidy plan known as 4b. Men transferred under the proposals will automatically pass from hourly workers to the category of contract workers. * Local bodies have been advised by the employment branch of the Labour Department in Wellington of the new conditions of the 4b scheme, in order that they may co-operate in the transfer of men from the No. 13 subsidised scheme. Greater Scope In May last the maximum subsidy payable to farmers on development contracts was increased from 50 to 75 per cent. Hitherto the types of work under the scheme embraced such operations as bush-felling, new drainage, stumping and logging, bona-fide improvement of existing drains, new subdivisional fencing and first top-dressing by hand work of newly cleared hilly country. The plan has now been extended to such maintenance works as the clearing out of large drains, renewal of subdivisional fences where substantial amounts of new materials are involved, deferred scrub-cutting, and first and subsequent two topdressings of hill country or other country which is not suitable for machine top-dressing and is to be done by hand. Farmer’s Part The farmer seeking the assistance of the scheme must apply to the Commission of Crown Lands, the Social Security Department or the district employment officer of the Labour Department. An officer of the Crown Lands Department investigates the proposed work, which, if approved, is carried out by co-opera-tive contract by registered unemployed men who had been on subsidised works. The amount of the subsidy paid depends on conditions. The farmer is required to accept full liability for accident insurance and to supply materials, tools, accommodation and transport costs., He pays the men employed, and draws his subsidy after the work has been officially inspected. Where necessary, progress payments of subsidy may be arranged.