FARM LABOUR

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22597, 30 December 1938, Page 10

FARM LABOUR

Lack of Accommodation A Difficulty

CHEAP MONEY TO BE MADE AVAILABLE

CPBESS ASSOCIATION TELEGRAM.) AUCKLAND, December 30. “There is a greater supply of labour arranged for farmers to draw upon than has been the case for many years,” said the Minister for' Labour (the Hon. P. C. Webb) tonight. “Unfortunately, some farmers in need of labour are seriously handicapped through lack of suitable accommodation for the men. It is the Government’s intention, in the near future, to make money available to farmers at a low rate of interest to build accommodation for employees.” According to the latest advice received from the Emploj'ment Division of the department at Hamilton, Mr Webb said, there was sufficient labour available to meet the demands of farmers for harvesting work. On the subject of conditions at some farms, Mr Webb said that when young men were sent on to farms where the accommodation was poor, and social surroundings such as to place them virtually in isolation without contact even with the farmer’s family, discontent rapidly developed, and the men soon left their jobs. His officers informed him that where accommodation was good, and farm workers could enjoy a reasonable degree of social life, little difficulty was experienced in providing labour.

“Until such time as accommodation on farms can be brought up to a reasonable standard of comfort,” Mr Webb concluded, “it will be difficult to induce young men to remain at farm work. If farmers would co-operate more with local placement officers, and give them an idea of the number and class of men they required, the officers would immediately get to work in an endeavour to meet their requirements.”