HARVEST LABOUR.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXXV, Issue 8306, 26 November 1915, Page 7

HARVEST LABOUR.

ACTION BY FARMERS' UNION.

REGISTERS TO BE...OPENED

A letter from Mr C. E. BevanBrown, headmaster of the Christchurch Boys' High School, dealing with the question of harvest labour, was'read a/t Wednesday's meeting of the executive of the North Canterbury Farmers' Union. The letter was as follows: —

" It has been suggested' that farmers may be short of men for the harvest, and' that perhaps they would be glad of, schoolboys over 15. As examinations are beginning, and the boys will soon be scattered, I shall be glad to know if boys are wanted. _ I have already asked boys to give in their names, and several have volunteered. In case they are wanted I should be much obliged if you. will tell me: — (]) " If I postponed I'the commence-, ment of term next year till February 10, would that cover the busiest time of harvest.

(2)' " How can boys be brought into touch with individual farmers and how can they be put up. Parents would want spine guarantee of proper billeting apart from casual grown-ups. '

(3)''•" Must boys have experience of agricultural work;; arid if .-.'.so, can your committee .. supply any •, preparato'r^ training. ■;..•: '^

"I shall be happy to supply names arid, addresses of some 40 or.-'.'jUO^boys, if desired. But it is necessary that the matter be decided fairly promptly, and a committee appointed to organise the movement. The school is anxious to help, if help is really needed."

Mr F. G. Hprrell said that in his district he had heard no one expressing any great anxiety on the subject of barvest labour. The date suggested by Mr B.evan-Brown would suit, as a considerable quantity of yjheat was at present in ear, and unless there was a wet harvest it would be an early one. There would be very little to handle; oats would be less than last harvest; wheat was doubtful. There were some exceptionally heavy crops, but the general average in his district was desperately poor, and in some instances it would be better if the sheep ate down tho crops. As far 'as his district was concerned, he did not think there would be,any great shortage of labour.

Mr G. Sheat: In any case, there is not the stuff to be handled.

Mr Horrell said that the Jifficulty was finding accommodation for the boys.

At a later stage in the meeting, Mr R. E. Evans defended'farm labourers from the allegation that they were not iit to associate with the boys from tho High School.

. It, was .pointed out that Mr BevanBrown's reference.was to casual labour.

| Mr A. J. Bell, manager of the Union j Labour Agency, said that ho had far- : mers coining in continually asking i what the Union intended doing in re--1 gard to harvest labour. If crops were not going to be good in North Canteri bury, they will bo good in South Canterbury, and he was pretty certainthat i there would be a shortage of. labour. i The'town was willing to help, and he .noted that Mr Collins, of the; Depart-) j ment of ; Labour, had been instructed ■to take action in tho matter. He (the ; speaker) suggested that the Union; ; should open two registers—one contain--1 ing the names of those willing*to do harvest work, .and the other the names /of -farmers desiring hardest -;./w;Qck,ers., j'He'waV'ihformed' that Messrs P.; and D. I Duncan could let farmers havo 40 or jSO men. and there, were other linns I who could let men off! .He had also ap- | plications from North Island schoolj masters who were willing to do harvest ' work. ■ j It was decided to open the registers suggested' by Mr Bell, to a.sk farmers who wanted harvest labour to lot the union know, and to charge tho usual fee to fanners, but to charge no fee to l those-registering for work.

Mr Lcadley suggested that, with respect to the boys from the Boys' Hi^h School, they should not be sent far from borne, and should bo sent to known fanners. There would bo. ';ho assumed, many farmers within a reasonable distance of Christchurch who could employ the boys.