HOUSING FOR RURAL WORKERS

Press, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23445, 27 September 1941, Page 3

HOUSING FOR RURAL WORKERS

♦ ■ SUGGESTED SURVEY BY FARMERS’ UNION The problem of finding suitable accommodation for farm workers was discussed at the monthly meeting of the South Canterbury Provincial Exe- i cutive of the Farmers’ Union yester-' day, when a suggestion, made by the Hon. W. Nash, when he was ActingPrime Minister, that the Farmers’ Union undertake a survey throughout New Zealand to investigate the position of housing for farm workers, was placed before the meeting. A letter was received from Mr A. P. O’Shea, Dominion secretary, who enclosed a questionnaire and explained that the Minister had suggested that the Farmers’ Union should take some responsibility for the bona fides of any offers of employment made. Mr O’Shea enclosed a copy of a letter from Mr Nash, who gave an assurance that the whole matter of building houses in the rural areas would be considered by : ■ the : Government when the results of the proposed survey were received. Mr C. Ley said the entire problem rested in the attractiveness of town life. People could get decent houses in the towns, and there was plenty of entertainment. Mr D. M. France said he had seen linen flax workers at Washdyke going to work from Pleasant Point. In these days of faster travel people could cover 10 miles in a very short time,

and his idea was that houses should not be built on farms, but in small townships. Experience in England had shown the* value of. having a population spread throughout small "centres. : “I think we are approaching ihe.prd'-; ’ blem lrbtav the wrong angled :sald - Itfrr. W. Scott. ! “If a . farmery j sufficient prices to I decent wages, the workers*; to the. country and good homes wouldfollow. . We cannot expect m|n to work 60 hours when they can get a job at 40 hours a week in town. Even farmers’ sons are seeking good jobs in the towns these days, and we cannot blame them.” The union decided to send the questionnaire, suggested by Mr Nash, to branches for consideration.