LABOUR WEAK LINK

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30847, 4 September 1965, Page 9

LABOUR WEAK LINK

Of the three main components of farm development land, labour and capital it is labour that is the weak link in the chain, says the annual review of the sheep industry issued by the Economic Service of the Meat and Wool Boards.

“In moving into an era of more intensive stock farming we ■will find ourselves faced with a general lack of manpower to enable the high standard of management required to be followed,” says the review. “When the jx>sition becomes more serious than it is today we may really begin to find ways and means of recruiting labour and retaining it in the pastoral industry.”

A few months ago, the review says, South Island Union representatives had declared that there would be a shortage of 200 shearers this coming season. This might well be so as it was evident throughout the country that the casual worker had pr actically disappeared. As a man’s family responsibilities developed he tended to turn to permanent al'l-the-year-round employment.

It was therefore left with the younger generation to

take up jobs like shearing which, according to the district. lasted for only a few months. Although the return at the time could be high, the union report from the south was to the effect that there was a marked shortage of learners —the ranks were not being filled as older men dropped out. This could, of course, have serious repercussions if the trend was not checked. The Wool Board’s shearing service had been established some years ago when there were signs of shortage showing up. The effort made to upgrade the status of shearers and improve the standard of their work was regarded as one of the industry’s most successful ventures and it would be unfortunate if in spite of this difficulty should be experienced in getting the national flock shorn.

While it was becoming increasingly difficult to get permanent men skilled in farm work, the casual man had today been largely replaced by the contractor.

The manpower working party of the Agricultural Development Conference had stated that it was aware of the shortage of part-time or casual labour which existed in varying degrees at different times of the year on farms which were not suited to the engagement of permanent fulltime workers.

It had, however, noted that the time was long past when the community was prepared to tolerate a more or less permanent pool of underemployed men available at call for casual work. Farming should continue to adjust iteself to this changed situation through . . . agricultural contracting and group labour schemes which offered a reasonable security of employment throughout the year.

In this report it had also been recorded that there was an Immediate problem of a shortage of experienced shepherds, which it was suggested might be met by overseas recruitment. Steps had been taken to advertise in the United Kingdom for shepherds who would be prepared to come to New Zealand but there had been no response. The latest move was to offer assistance to men sponsored by New Zealand farmers.

In the meantime there was not likely to be any improvement in the position while urban employment offered greater attractions to workers, their wives and families. The New Zealand farmer had adopted many labour-saving devices, but in the end nothing could replace the shepherd in looking after a flock of breeding ewes if production was to be maintained at a high level.