“Labour Shortage On Canterbury Farms”

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29383, 9 December 1960, Page 20

“Labour Shortage On Canterbury Farms”

Figures supplied by branches did show a definite farm labour rinctage in Canterbury, aaid Mr J. F. G. Blakely, president of North Canterbury' Federated Farmer*, at a meeting of the provincial executive. He said he had a feeling the survey had not been as full as it might have been. The returns flowed that 50 married couple* were wanted and there were 55 vacant bouses on farms. There Were vacancies for 30 single permanent workers and there were 18 vacant quarters for single men. There were vacancies for 28 casual workers.

Mr Blakely said the general feeling right through the reports from branches was that casual labour was one of the biggest problems and some .reports went as far as to say it was extinct. He agreed that this was so in some districts. Federated Farmers and other organisations should get together and show what vacancies there were in all indurtries. Local bodies had a similar problem.

•This should be tackled from a national angle and not from that of any one group,’* said Mr Blakely. Mr J. W. Overton said he and others in close proximity to towns were in stronger competition with industry than were farmers further out. He could get a man at week-ends but after the man had worked in industry on Saturday morning for which he was paid £4. In the foothills where farms were being developed farmers would no doubt be prepared to employ more labour but it was a matter of economics. “There has been a lot of talk about casual labour but what are we going to do with them in the meantime?” said Mr C. D. Lewis. “We can’t expect than to be at beck and call We should organise ourselves. Men want continuous employment.” Mr Blakely said, the shortage of casual labour was also experienced under the organised groups. Mr D. W. Gray said housing was part of the trouble. In Hororata there was quite an opening for

full-time casuals but there did not seem to be any interested. Mr Blakely said that in the past there were always some men who were permanent casuals, doing fencing, tree felling and so on. “It may be we should have better accommodation in townships for them.* 1 he said. “That is definitely so,” said Mr Lewis. Council Views

The matter had been opened by Mr D. H. Butcher reporting on a meeting of the Dominion council of Federated Farmers. He said the general view was that although most farms could employ more labour it was a matter of economic* It was said that if more immigrants were employed on farms it would help the position It would be all right if they stayed on the farms but some assisted immigrants did not even stay for the full term. “As long as protected industries can offer more we just can’t hold labour on the farm. We just can’t compete,” said Mr Butcher. It was said at the council meeting that the farm

labour position in the North Island was such that more women and children were working in cowsheds than had been the case for a long time. As long as there was over-full employment the trouble would continue. It was mentioned at the council meeting that the Government was one of the biggest protected industries competing for labour, said Mr Butcher. The various provincial districts were to be asked to get details of the farm labour situation in their districts. Meat Schedules

Farmers were feeling strongly about the 5s premium being paid for lamb in the North Island and in the south of the South Island, and not in Canterbury, said Mr C. Robinson. Canterbury was missing out all along the line and the question should be tackled more strongly. Mr R. E. Hiatt said he knew of cases where farmers sold lambs on the farm and got 5s above the schedule. If lambs were sold at the works they did not get this.

It is time something was done about it," he said. «, Have you any suggastMas Of what we can do, Mr Hiatt?” said Mr Blakely. After a pause Mr Blakely said there had been no concrete Suggestion yet The premium was an incentive to get lambs. The rebate of id per lb on lamb in Southland was a processing charge. Until Canterbury works were killing more it would not be paid here. It all rested on the quota. . Mr A. C. Wright said the whole crux of the rebate and everything else csme dpwn to the killing quota in Canterbury works.