HARVEST LABOUR.

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume XLVI, Issue 6965, 21 January 1918, Page 4

HARVEST LABOUR.

Reports that are reaching Wellington from the country districts indicate that the position with regard to harvest labour is proving easier than had been anticipated (says the Dominion). The various branches of the Farmers' Union are not being pressed for harvest hands, ard the Labour Deportment ia finding that it .has men in band. It appears that most of the farmers, expecting a severe shortage of labour at harvest time, have nude their arrangements accordingly, aud by increasing their own burdens, cooperating with their neighbours, ar.d making use of members of their own families, they have been able 10 carry on. Shearing appears to be proceeding quite normally in moat of the districts. "The country has adapted itself to war conditions wonderfully well," said t visitor to Wellington on Monday. "Many men ar« working in a way that imposes a nerious strain upon thetn, owing to the enlistment of their sons and male employees, but they are able to keep the places going. Production is certainly not as large as it would be it we had more labour, but on the other hand prices are high. There is less difficulty with the harvest than we anticipated, and apparently there will be no need for any special Government action this season."