LABOUR PROBLEM.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 263, 30 July 1908, Page 7

LABOUR PROBLEM.

WHAT THE FARMERS WANT. tARM HANDS AND DOMESTICS. STATE-AIDED IMMIGRANTS. At tho Farmers' Union Conference at Wellington yesterday, Major 801 l (Auckland) movedr " That tho Colonial Conference should «rgo upon tho Government tho necessity of importing an adequate supply of farm and domestic labour." He said it might seem strange to bo-dis-cussing such a proposal whilo there woro many men walking tho streets of tho cities looking for work. But tho fact was that it was a most difficult tiling to got suitablo farm labour. In his district it was almost impossible, and -tho only remedy was for tile Government to import suitable farm and domestic labour. Tho unemployed of tho cities'had not tho training aud experience to make them, farm labourers. Tho samo disabilities applied to the girls as domeotics. But in tho Old Country tbero wero largo numbers of capablo men and women willing to como out, if assisted. Tho want of skilled labour was' rcsponsiblo for tho smallness of tho country farm output. Mr. Forsyth (Taranaki) supported. • Mr. Middleton (Southland) suggested? farmers should be allowed to nominate immigrants and guarantee labour. This might at present be contrary to tho law of contract. These immigrants then' would not immediately j°in the unemployed's deputation to tho Piemier, as some did yesterday, but would go from the ship straight to the'farms Mr. Hockley (Huntcrvillo) supported.- . passage-money. Mr. W. B. Matheson (Eketahuna) said the Government had a schomo for selecting itnmigiants, but the necessary capital to come nmW aS I- l mg - Ho suggested a scheme under which an employer could advanco the minimum passage-money, and the Agontbeneral should then secure efficient workers land bring them out, their services to bo available to tho farmer for twelvo mouths. Jie did not think.the Government could bo. asked to find tho money, but farmers. urgently needing labourers could easily do so. Mr - W". Lcadley (Ashburton) referred to tho evils of : inefficient labour. ; Mr. D. Jonos (North Canterbury) said that oven now, if they sent £10 Homo, they could get men out. Mr. Middleton (Southland) said this was not sufficient. They wanted a guarantee that tho men who paid tho money should get their services. .. .

Tho President (Mr. J. G. Wilson, of Bulls) said he had • particulars of a capablo farm worker now desiring work. He was fami- : liar with Romney sheep, and his wife was a capable housekeepor.., .If anj r of the delegates knew of an opening for such a couple lie would belglad to know. Mr. R, Evans (Kainpoi) said there were : •too many men who refused to milk a cow or drive a plpugh. Farm labourers' prospects were good. They rarely remained longer than eight years as workers. FARMS STARVIKC FOR WANT OF LABOUR. Mr. J. M'Queon (Invercnrgill) said for years past the farms had 1 been starving for want, of labour, and. as a result they wero ' altering their system of fanning. They were adopting a system of farming which required less labour. The—country's exports wero thus restricted. :The farm labour difficulty was not temporary, but permanent. The peopling of the farms already sottled was'as important as-, the- opening up of now lands. Mr. O. F. .Clothier (North Canterbury) said his experience of immigrants was that . :they were less capable'and less energetic than colonials as farm workers. With regard to domestics ho'favoured the proposal. Mr. Middleton (Southland) moved:— "That the Agent-General's office be asked to arrango a system by which employers hero can. forward to the office in London applications for workers, together with the minimum passage money required; tho office to engage any efficient labour recommended by tho em-ployer-or bis agent on behalf ,of the employer for. one year."

The President referred to the question of importing Danes, and" referred to tlio experience of ; Scottish farmers with Danish labourers, as described in a paragraph,"in The Dominion recently. Major Bell (Auckland) said Canada was getting good farm labourers. Why could not New Zealand get them?,

Tho'President: The immigrants to Canada, wero less by 100,000 last year. Major Bell disagreed with Air. Clothier as to tho unsuitabiHty of immigrants. His experience was.tho reverse. Tho amendment was ruled out of order, and the first motion was carried unanimously.

Members of the Legislature who are engaged in,the farming industry when questioned on tho matter of farm labour last evening, oxpres'scd coincidence with the statements mado at the Farmers' Union Conference as. to the scarcity of labour. They stated that there was undoubtedly a dearth of : competent farm labourers; nothwith- - standing that good wages were offered. If the new Union demands wero conceded, there would; probably be less employment ofl'or'ing.