FARM LABOUR

Dominion, Volume 31, Issue 278, 20 August 1938, Page 12

FARM LABOUR

Fit Men Must Accept Jobs NO RELIEF OTHERWISE Placement List To Be Drawn Up

Instiuetious have been given to officers of the Labour Department throughout New Zealand that if fit men on the department’s books refuse to accept fa. it work without adequate reason, these men will be refused relief of any kind. This announcement was made*in the Bouse of Representatives vesterday by the Minister of Labour, Hon. H.'T." Armstrong, in an answer to an urgent question by Mr. T. D. Burnett (Opposition, Temuka). Mr. Burnett asked whether, as the period of seasonal farm work throughout the Dominion was now opening and assistance for lambing, shearing, and other activities would be needed, the Minister would definitely state if the stand-down period of a fortnight was to be insisted upon on the conclusion of such jobs. "Many good ie’ on public works and similar jobs are turning down firstclass offers of seasonal work for fear of the stand-down period being insisted upon. and nation ! and essential work will accordingly suffer.” said Mr. Burnett. Minister’s Reply. "I may say that the administrative policy of my department aims particularly at removing any hindrance against t o How of labour to farms,” said the Minister in reply. "Farm labour ; been classified into short-term and long-term categories. Work connected with the lambing season, haymaking, harvesting, potato-digging, and the like, is treated as short-term work, and no stand-down period whatever is imposed on men who leave subsidised works to accept such engagements. Work connected with shearing, freezing works, butter and cheese factories, wool stores, box-making, and bacon-curing factories is regarded as long term seasonal work and in respect of wages earned during the season at those occupations no stand-down period is imposed if a man’s earnings over the last 12 weeks average less than £-1/10/- a week. “The honourable member may be assured, therefore, that the regulations provide no excuse for seasonal work being declined for fear of imposition of the stand-down period at it« conclusion. The Government is desirous that farmers should obtain all the labour that they require, and it would materially assist the department in its efforts to that end if farmers would report to the nearest certifying officer cases in which men engaged on subsidised works decline offers of employment for that or any other unsatisfactory reason.

“Men on public works, of course, are not under my control, but I understand from my colleague, the Minister of Public Works, that every facility is given to enable public works employees to accept seasonal farm work, and special efforts are made for their re-en-gagement on public works on the completion of their private employment. Lists Being Prepared.

“Several days ago my department communicated to its officers throughout New Zealand detailed instructions which are to be followed during the forthcoming season to assist farmers in obtaining labour. Lists are being drawn up of all single men on the department’s books who are physically 11 for farm work, whether experienced or inexperienced. This list will include men on sustenance, in Scheme 5 and Scheme 13, and the names will be drawn by ballot for placement on a waiting list. Men placed on this list will be given an opportunity of advancing reasons why they should not lie sent to farm work. These reasons will be given the most careful consideration, and if regarded as satisfactory the worker will be excused, but if farm work is refused without giving reasons or for reasons that unsatisfactory, such men will be denied any further relief of any kind, including .Scheme 13 work, until they express their willingness to accept farm work. “These arrangements are part of a comprehensive and most carefully-pre-pared plaii which the department has drawn up for active operation through its branches in all parts of New 'Zealand. Its object is to ensure that as far as anything that-the Department of Labour can do in the matter, farmers,, will have every help in obtaining the labour they need.”