Shortage Of Farm Labour

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29325, 3 October 1960, Page 12

Shortage Of Farm Labour

The provincial executive of North Canterbury Federated Farmers acted wisely in deciding to seek evidence of the reported shortage of farm labour, even though the shortage is not in real doubt. It would be surprising indeed if the farming industry had escaped the consequences of the general condition of overfull employment, when both the Government and industry are able to offer inducements which the farming industry cannot match. But many would dismiss the complaint of shortage of labour on the farms as no more than one of the farmers’ perennial “grouses”; and it is true that not all such complaints in the past have been substantiated when put to the test. The executive has asked North Canterbury branches of Federated Farmers to take a census in their districts of the number of men wanted for farm work and the number of houses that are empty on farms. This evidence will immeasurably strengthen the farmers’ case. It is imperative that farming, which is the chief support of

the nation’s economy, should have an adequate labour force with provision for the expansion necessary to supply the food needs of larger populations and to provide funds to import raw materials for manufacturers. When the need for more farm labour is statistically demonstrated, there should be no hesitation about trying to satisfy it. Unfortunately, that would not be the end of the problem. It is one thing to get farm workers; it is often another thing to hold them on the farms against the lures of other occupations in the cities. Farmers can help themselves as well as their workers by improving rural amenities and by making strangers happy in new communities. The greater difficulties by far are economic, however, and may be beyond the capacity of farmers to solve without help. The farmers’ complaint of labour shortages is, indeed, only one aspect of a lop-sided economy that influences the diversion of all resources towards less important activities, and away from the nation’s basic industries, such as farming.