CLEARING FARMS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 264, 8 November 1939, Page 9

CLEARING FARMS.

PUBLIC WORKS MEN.

INCREASED PRODUCTION AIM.

REVIEW BY MINISTER.

(By Telejrrapli—Press Association.) CHRLSTCHURCH, this day. New Zealand Ims already made important steps in the transfer of men and machinery from Public Works to farm developmental schemes, with a view to increased primary production, and the policy io which reference has been made in London by the Hon. P. Fraser, ie already being vigorously pursued. Commenting to-day on Mr. Eraser's statement, the Minister of Labour, the Hon. P. Webli, said that at the

moment some :!SOO men previously employed 011 Scheme 1.1 and Public Works schemes were engaged in cleaning up private farm lands throughout New Zealand. More than 1000 additional men were at present being transferred, and it was anticipated that in the near future more than .">OOO men would have been taken off Public Works and put on to the clearing of farm lands.

"Men so employed are working under contract conditions and the Kinployment Division of the Labour Department is subsidising their wages to the extent of To per cent," Mr. Webb continued.

"To enable less fortunate farmers to avail themselves of tli i<s offer, the State Ad winces Department and many mercantile linns and banks arc giving farmers financial accommodation."

The latest figures relating to the farm labour question in New Zealand were reviewed by the Minister, who pointed out that while there was a shortage of experienced workers in the. North Island there was an excess in the South Island, and all could not be placed in positions. On these tigures, compiled by the Employment Division of the Labour Department, there were 1518 vacancies for farm workers throughout the Dominion. Of these 248 were for experienced men. The great majority of jobs offering were for men under twenty years of age. Of the 318 vacancies remaining unfilled, 2.>4 were from the North Island. The number of workers available was 830, but of this number only 127 were experienced and the great majority of these were over twenty years of age.