FARM LABOUR.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 58, Issue 35, 20 November 1937, Page 5

FARM LABOUR.

IMPORTATION FROM AUSTRALIA. (Per Press Association.) AUCKLAND, November 19. A move to secure farm labour from outside the Dominion lias been initiated by the Auckland Provincial Farmers’ Union, which to-morrow; advertises that numerous applications for employment on farms have been received from New South Wales. This step has been taken by the Union on account of the inability of New Zealand farmers to obtain requisite labour to carry'on their operations. ... An advertisement inviting Australians to make application for situations in New Zealand was inserted in the “Sydney Morning Herald” on November 6 by the Auckland Provincial Secretary (Mr A. E. Eobinson) to whom persons interested were invited to write. In a. statement to-day, Mr Eobinson said that by the Mariposa mail this week 89 applications had been received some of which covered several men. The matter of arranging for ,transport of the applicants had created difficulty, continued Mr Eobinson. If an attempt was made to obtain a refund of any passage the subsequent payment of wages by farmers, that course might be deemed, illegal, and amount to an indenture. “It is no use advertising for labour in Auckland, as men cannot be got,” said Mr Eolvin son. “Labour can ,be supplied from Australia if the Government will arrange to get the men here, and we propose to ask the Government to make the necessary arrangements.” Mr Eobinson added that in the meantime particulars of the Australian applicants were being made available to all interested farmers.