FARM LABOUR

Press, Volume LXXIII, Issue 21986, 9 January 1937, Page 12

FARM LABOUR

WAIKATO COMMITTEE’S! REPORT • . SHORTAGE OF EXPERIENCED WORKERS AND YOUTHS (PRESS ASSOCIATTOX TELEGRAM.) HAMILTON, January 8. A. committee set up by the Waikato sub-provincial executive of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union to investigate the farm labour position tabled the following report to-day: (1) There is no shortage of casual workers for harvesting or development work. (2) Where an organisation exists, as in the Te Awamutu and Ohaupo areas, under the relieving farmmanager scheme, there is no shortage of reliable, experienced men to take charge or assist on farms where the farmer wishes to take a holiday. (3) There is a definite shortage, however, of experienced farm labourers, and a pronounced shortage of youths; and in many cases inability to obtain labour, coupled with a decided reluctance on the part of men to undertake this class of work, has caused considerable hardship to farmers, and in many cases has caused dairymen to reduce the "size of their herds. The difficult labour problem, coupled with* the recent rise .in wool values, has brought about a strong tendency on farms where it is possible to do so to reduce herds further, and replace them with sheep. . .. . ■ There was a long discussion on the report, MrC. J. Pierce (Qhaupo) remarking: “Our own people are not sending their children on the land. They are going for the professions and industrial trades. I would like to know how many vof our people are sending their children to positions in the tpwps. The people making most noise are often those who are offering the worst conditions.” '