HARVEST LABOUR.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 56, Issue 97, 5 February 1936, Page 6

HARVEST LABOUR.

THE POSITION IN THE COUNTY. DIFFERENCE OF OPINION. Several Ashburton farmers have complained recently that there is a shortage of harvest labour in this district. When inquiries were made at the Post Office Labour Bureau this morning, it was stated that all demands for labour from farmers had been met, frequently at very short notice, and the position was that all fit and available men who had been on relief work were being employed. It was probable that further demands could be met, however, as some of the men were working only for short periods. There was a shortage of general farm labour in. the County, it was stated. ♦While JlO had not experienced a shortage, of labour, a local labour agent said, ho had received 41 heavy demand recently, and even now was receiving requests for labour from every part of the County. He had been successful in placing men from as far away as Christchurch in work. There were still eight men on his books, however, and they had stated that if they were not placed in the near future they intended going farther south to look for work.

There was a shortage of teamsters at present, as was usual at this period of the year. The wages offered for this class of work showed an improvement on those of recent years.

While the demand for labour had eased during a event days, there were certainly no men waiting for work, another stated.