ORGANISED LABOUR

Waikato Times, Volume 125, Issue 20957, 9 November 1939, Page 13

ORGANISED LABOUR

SHORTAGE ON FARMS REMEDIAL PLAN OUTLINED PUBLIC WORKS EMPLOYEES “Organised labour in farming, with special reference to wartime conditions,” was the title of an address given by Mr A. C Cameron, general manager of the Farm Accounting Association of New Zealand, at the eighth annual conference of the New Zealand Grassland Association, held at Canterbury Agricultural College. “The official mind,” said Mr Cameron, “must first of all be brought to realise that farming is a skilled occupation, and that any person wearing a suit of clothes will not necessarily make a farm labourer. It takes a skilled worker to put up a fence, handle a team, plough or handle stock successfully. “Some are born ‘handless’ in this connection and are definitely a liability on a farm. “With these’general comments one might reasonably admit that given strength and willingness to work it is possible to make use of most men on a farm—at a price. “When production is a vital necessity to a country, it is not right that farmers’ sons and efficient farm labourers should be working on Public Works, nor does it appear to be right t oexpect such men, if on Public Works, to give up a better paying job with better conditions for a lesser. So what are we going to do about it? Public Works Pay “The Government in power at the moment will not agree to a reduction in Public Works rates of pay—these were increased as recently as a fortnight ago. Nor apparently is the Government convinced that ‘conscription’ and the drawing up of a ‘national register’ are necessary. “Assuming that these are controversial topics which it would be wise to avoid at the moment let us examine the alternatives which are left to us. Would it be practicable or wise to force men known to be experienced farm workers to give up certain jobs and return to the farm? If the answer is yes—how far should the comb-out go? Efficient farm workers are now engaged in numerous occupations apart from Public Works. Would it be expedient to comb them all out? I think not. “I do believe, however, that as Public Works and other types of relief schemes are being carried on primarily to relieve unemployment, a definite case could be established in support of the necessary measures to ensure the return to farm work of those suitable,” the speaker continued. Suggested Action “I should further suggest that at the moment this is the only large reservoir of experienced men which can be tapped. I suggest that the following steps be taken to ensure that these men be made available if and as required. “That a list containing the names, ages and birth places of all men on Public Works or relief work be printed in a pamphlet, such pamphlet to be supplied on application to all rural organisations; that supplementary lists be issued regularly. “That the Public Works scheme be distributed so that schemes be undertaken adjacent to all important agricultural centres, that is irrigation schemes in Mid-Canterbury and Central Otago, road works, afforestation, draining, aerodromes, etc. “That the men from certain districts be employed in the Public Works camp nearest to their home district. “That any rural organisation be given the right to apply for any Public Works employee to be sent to a specific district—such employee to have the right of appeal if application considered unreasonable. Subsidy To Wives “Any farmer wanting a labourer, shearer or harvester, to have the right of applying to such camp for any specific worker —such worker to be given the option of accepting such or similar work, or of going off the Public Works pay roll. “In the case of married men applied for, a Government subsidy to be given to the wife to bring the family income up to the Public Works rate.

“I will conclude my remarks,” said Mr Cameron, “by stating that in my opinion no young country such as New Zealand, depending as it does almost entirely upon its primary production, can prosper in the long run under any sys&m where farm labour has to be subsidised by the Government of the day. “It would appear to me to be selfevident that no long range policy can be successful which does not provide for the removal of all restrictions standing in the way of the major economic production and marketing of our principal primary products.”