HARVEST LABOUR.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 62, Issue 86, 22 January 1942, Page 4

HARVEST LABOUR.

TOWNSPEOPLE CAN ASSIST. OLDER MEN FILLING VACANCIES. Discussing the harvest labour question the Ashburton State Placement Officer (IMr J. B. Pearson) stated that although a few individual farmers may have suffered some inconvenience, generally speaking the hay and oat harvest lias been got in without much difficulty. 'J’he position regarding labour for the wheat harvest, however, is somewhat obscure and the present indication is that with a comparatively short and concentrated season, more labour than is at present offering will be required. In some agricultural districts in New Zealand, says Mr Pearson, good work is being done by townspeople assisting in the harvest by working during the week-ends and in some cases in the evenings and even on their annual holidays. It is thought that there may he people in Ashburton who will be willing and anxious to further the war effort to this extent.

The Placement Service has also had some inquiry for elderly men for such jobs as rouseabout, and cowman-gar-dener. With so many men being called lip for service the Government will welcome the older men coming forward and. filling these vacancies, thus at the same time making the host possible use of manpower while keeping production up to the maximum. There is still a steady demand for tractor-drivers and threshing-mill hands.