FARM LABOUR.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 58, Issue 39, 25 November 1937, Page 7

FARM LABOUR.

DIVIDED VIEWS ON SHORTAGE. (Special to the “Guardian.”) CHRISTCHURCH, This Day. Conflicting views on whether or not there was a shortage of farm labour in Canterbury were expressed by speakers at a meeting of the North Canterbury Executive of the New Zealand Farmers’ Uhion yesterday. A general opinion that, especially in districts near the freezing works, there would be a shortage of men for harvesting—possibly sufficiently acute to cause grave embarrassment to grain growers this season—was expressed by the meeting, but individual speakers gave details 6f their own experiences, some of which indicated the absence of any shortage for certain classes of farm labour. Mr M. Fleming, of Tai Tapu, said it seemed from his experience that as soon as the word “cows” was mentioned would-be applicants sheered off. It was extremely difficult to got cowmen, he said. The Minister for Labour (the Hon. H. T. Armstrong) advised the executive by fetter that the Government was well seized with the importance' of the problem, and bad embarked on a very extensive campaign to ensure a supply of labour. In some parts of the North Island, where the position had been said to be most acute, tbe Labour Department’s work bad considerably improved the position, and the same results could be hoped for in the South Island. “But what will bo do if the men will not take the job?” asked one member. No. action was taken in the meantime.