Farm Labour

Dominion, Volume 32, Issue 72, 17 December 1938, Page 13

Farm Labour

'Sir, —The shortage of -workers for farms seems acuter than ever this season. Harvesters and shearers are at a premium, and that in spite of the excellent wages now offering. - "The Dominion” was kind enough to publish a letter by the writer on this subject some months ago, in which he suggested that the remedy, for 'this stale qt affairs was the establishment by the Government of training farms where all boys on leaving primary schools and not continuing their education elsewhere or entering an apprenticeship, could be sent, till proficient, in the various operations on a farm. This suggestion has since been discussed by one or two branches of the Farmers’ Union, and turned down by them; but the writer. was much interested in reading an article in a recent number of the “Times” Educational Supplement in which the same remedy was proposed for similar conditions at Home. The advantages of this scheme are twofold. It would not only provide healthy occupation, and a prospect of permanent work in the future for .boys now drifting ■into the ranks of casual Labourers, out it would take off the streets potential juvenile offenders. "The modern democratic State has no choice but to concern itself increasingly in the liteof the adolescent,” says a water m the, educational supplement. We criticize what happens in some other countries, their w-ays anight not Ibe ours, but at least they are showing deep interest in, a.l their adolescents without exception. If to farm instruction, elementary military training could be added, in these proposed establishments, then their fulness would be increased manifold. The Government has stated it is not prepared to consider schemes suggested by individuals, but if it waits to receive any progressive ideas on the above, subject from the Farmers’ Union, it will wait a very long time. ~ Meanwhile the solution of the prooiem becomes more pressing every day.—l am, « te ” AGU'R. ■Walpawa, HB„ December 14.