FARM LABOUR SHORTAGE

Press, Volume LXXIII, Issue 21990, 14 January 1937, Page 8

FARM LABOUR SHORTAGE

MINISTER’S POLICY ATTACKED MEN ATTRACTED TO PUBLIC WORKS LURE OF HIGHER WAGES Allegations that the wages paid on public works are attracting labour from farms and that the Minister for Public Works (the : Hon. R. Semple) had created the position by “wishing to make out what a good man he has been to the unemployed and the men on public works” were made yesterday when the North Canterbury executive of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union was considering a letter .from the Dominion secretary asking for a survey of the farm labour position in the district. A case was quoted of a farmer’s son leaving him to take a contract on the public works. “There is a definite shortage of single ploughmen and single dairy farm workers,” said Mr Warren. “There is an unlimited supply of harvesters, but men for permanent positions are missing. “I do not know whether we should reply to Mr Semple or not,” he added. “He has many qualities that I admire and some that I do not. The position has been created by Mr Semple wishing to make out what a good man he has been to the unemployed and the men on public works, He has told us from time to time of the wages they haye been getting. It would be better if for a change he gave the average or lowest wages. Men on public works do not work on wet days, and they have other expenses. The wages he has been talking about have undoubtedly upset the farm worker. It is dot due to the old Government. It is due to the present Government’s attitude to public works.” “It is only a matter of time whether we get any farm labour at all. Even the sons of farmers are going on public works contracts and making up to £6 a week.' That is getting near home,” said Mr W. L. Wright. “One of my sons has gone, and the other is talking about it. He said to me: ‘Do you think I am in my right mind behind a team of horses when I can get those wages on public works?’ “If the young fellows brought up to the work are not going to stick to it,” he added, “how are we going to get on? If there is no inducement to show that there is a decent wage to be made I do not know where we will be.” “Prosperity has " not returned enough for the farmer to pay these higher wages,” remarked the president. Mr R. T. McMillan agreed that there was no shortage of harvesters. However, there was no doubt that the men were leaving farms for public works. , Serious as that was now, it would be a much greater problem in the future. Two men who had been with farmers in the Rangiora district for 10 years had away by other work, said'Mr W. Smith. “The country will feel the full effects in a year,” said Mr J. E. H. McGrath. “The Government will find that the farms will have to have labour, and things will then balance themselves.” The president remarked that there was an abundance of married couples, the shortage being of single men.