FARM LABOUR.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 292, 10 December 1936, Page 3

FARM LABOUR.

NEED FOR TRAINING. SKILLED MEN SHORTAGE. GUARANTEED PRICE AID. Referring to his recent visit to tlie -Waikato district tlic Minister of Labour, the Hon. H. T. Armstrong, said to-day that lie had made the trip at the invitation of farmers' unions and local bodies to discu.ss with them their problems. None of the meetings had been public meetings as indicated by the newspapers. "It appears to me that there is a legitimate shortage of experienced farm workers in the district," he said. "I mean the class of labour that can go straight on to milking or take charge of a team of horses, for instance. The shortage seems to be in trained men. Farmers will have to train men for the jobs, but that, of course, will be a disadvantage to them in the meantime. "Some of the farmers are asking for assistance from the State to enable them to do this," continued Mr. Armstrong; "but the question is where will it stop if we make a start in that direction'( You cannot do it for one farmer when his next door neighbour does not receive the same treatment. Naturally he would say 'Where do I come inlf we create a precedent heaven knows where it will end. "My personal opinion is that the assistance should be rather in the way of a better share of guaranteed prices. If the prices paid at the present time are insufficient, steps will be taken" to meet the position. The guaranteed price is open to review each milking season, and the same applies to the wages paid for farm labour and conditions of work. These can be fixed year by year. "As we know more about the position we will meet the farmers in a reasonable way," he added.