FARM LABOUR

Dominion, Volume 36, Issue 309, 24 September 1943, Page 9

FARM LABOUR

Improvement Claimed By Minister A recent statement by Mr.. James Begg, Dunedin, in which he dented. that ’he manpower position ot the farming industries had improved as compared with the •middle of 19-12 was challenged yesterday by the Minister of Industrial .Manpower, Mr. McLagan. “I can say quite definitely,” said Mr. McLagan, “that this improvement in the general itirm labour position is real and has actually oo ol ’ l ' «ed. Altogether there have been 13.800 farming workers released from military service to the farming industry since June, 1942,-of whom 2100 have been released since April 1. 1943. During the whole period, however, approximately 4000 were remobilized after Hie expiry ot temporary leave and lt>oo fresh postings occurred. The net gniu to the itirrnm» industry may be closely estimated at 8300 men. • . ‘Tt-may be remembered. said uh Minister, “that in June, 1942, the Lome defence forces of this country had reached an extremely high figure and very sweeping reductions have taken place since then. The figure of 8300 represents only that portion of the total reduction iu the home forces which actually transferred on to farms, after, making all allowances for remobilizatiou and fresh postings. “I do not suggest that the farming industries are not in need of further men. 9?lie additional demands which have been thrown ou to farmers' for increased production are well known, and everything is being done to augment further the labour force available to the industry. “The splendid work already being done by the farming industry is most warmly appreciated. Farmers are making a very important contribution indeed to the war effort of the Dominion as a whole.. In the continued release of personnel from the army the highest priority of all is being given both by the Army Department and by my department io the release of personnel who will become available for farming work. Only this week arrangements have been made for the release of a further 500 men for this industry and these men have already begun to come out of camp.” The release of personnel is not the only means by which the rnmy has' assisted the farming industry, said the Minister. “Lust year the whole harvest in the South Island wrtsl gathered by the army and the job has never been done more expeditiously in the history of Now Zealand. Arrangements are in hand for this kind of assistance to be repeated, in the coming season, while at the same time a very complete mobilization of slitdents, teachers aud others suitable for temporary work is being organized on a scale which has never before been attempted. The fact that certain farms are in need of labour is certainly no indication that there has not: been a definite and progressive movement in the labour position of the industry a whole.”