FARM TO ARMY

Waikato Times, Volume 127, Issue 21194, 17 August 1940, Page 9

FARM TO ARMY

LOSS OF WORKERS WAIKATO-KING COUNTRY (Special to Time*.) TE KUITI, Friday “If a referendum had beer taken on the farms 12 months age and another taken now, the drop in the number of workers would be startling,” said Mr W. A. Lee, when the Te Kuiti Council of Primary Production was expressing concern at the farm labour question. Even a year ago, an acute labour shortage existed, but there was no doubt that a great many young farm workers were now in the army There was less manpower on the farms, and that could bring only the one result.

Mr Rivers, representing the Placement Office, said that interviewing officers had recently been around public works men and those on land development works, asking what trained and untrained men were available for farm work. If they were not available for farm work when required, they were dismissed, but there was no doubt that, after saying they were ready to work on farms, some preferred to drift away when this work offered. Greater difficulty was apparently being experienced in securing men in the Waikato and King Country than in other districts. Otorohanga Difficulty Mr H. E. Walters mentioned four cases of farmers in the Otorohanga district who had for some time been vainly endeavouring to secure hands, while another case was mentioned in a letter from an Otorohanga farmer, who, having tried the Placement Office, inquired if the Primary Production Council could assist him. The council decided to inquire what will be the procedure adopted in the classification of essential occupations when the available supply of volunteers have been called up, and what steps are being taken regarding the calling up of farm labour for territorial service. STOCK VALUATION POSITION WITH NEW TAXES (Special to Times) TE KUITI, Friday Concern was expressed at the meeting of the Te Kuiti Council of Primary Production at the import of letters concerning the valuing of j stock for taxation purposes. Under new legislation stock in farmers’ returns are to be brought to a standard current market value, of 19s a sheep, whereas in the past the standard value, fixed about 1932, was often a nominal one of 10s a sheep. For the purpose of income tax the letters stated that it would be permissible to lift the value as for 1939 as well as for 1940, but for social security and, presumably national security, it was specifically stated that the returns sent in must be amended by giving the old standard value of 10s a sheep as at March. 1939, but the new standard value of 19s a sheep as at March, 1940, thus showing for the purpose of these taxes a false profit of 9s a sheep over the year. The council resolved to ask the National Council to see that this anomaly did not become operative.