Ashburton Guardian Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit SATURDAY, OCTOBER, 18, 1941. FARM LABOUR SHORTAGE.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 62, Issue 6, 18 October 1941, Page 4

Ashburton Guardian Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit SATURDAY, OCTOBER, 18, 1941. FARM LABOUR SHORTAGE.

Everyone realises that the winning of the war is the paramount objective to-day, and no one will criticise the Government for doing its utmost to bring about that end, but there is none the less need to avoid unnecessary dislocation and hindrance of occupations essential to the efficient conduct of the Empire War effort. Thus there is ground for the protest of the Mid-Can-terbury Executive of the Farmers’ Union and the Production Council against the extension of Territorial training over the harvest period, so far, at least, as it affects men capable of undertaking work in the fields. However matters are arranged some dislocation of trade and industry are inevitable and must be met, but it should be possible to provide for seasonal requirements that affect farmers not only individually but also as a body engaged in work that in its place is as essential as the manufacture of munitions. Apart altogether from the pressing needs of civilians, there is still truth, despite the changed methods of warfare, in Napoleon s dictum that an army marches on its stomach. From time to time during the last two years, district primary production councils have discussed feelingly and at length the difficulties arising from a continued shortage of farm labour. The question of labour for farms is part of a wider problem which has been aggravated by the failure of the Government to deal firmly and constructively with the need for industrial mobilisation and the effective use of manpower. The men at present engaged on what are still relief works are officially described as being unsuitable for employment on farms; but it is only now that the Minister of Labour and the Minister of National Service are preparing to meet the National Council of Primary Production to thrash out the whole question in its relation to the needs of the armed forces. The aproach is belated, but, even worse, it is sectional. The efficient organisation of manpower is required in the factories arid workshops, as well as ; on the farms, and the Government has a duty to view' the matter as one requiring the urgent shaping and application of a national policy.