"A REAL SHORTAGE"

Evening Post, Volume CXXIII, Issue 49, 27 February 1937, Page 13

"A REAL SHORTAGE"

LABOUR FOR FARMS

REMARK CHALLENGED

(By Telegraph—Press Association.) INVERCARGILL, February 26. Reference to some comment of Mr. W. H. Freeman, S.M., on the shortage .of. farm labour in the Magistrate's Court at Gore this week was made at a meeting of the Southland provincial executive of the Farmers' Union today. Mr. Freeman's comment was made when he questioned a judgment debtor and asked him if he had tried to find work on farms. An assurance that the debtor had done so without success was given, and the Magistrate asked if the cry made by farmers throughout the country that they could ' not get men was not "all humbug." The debtor said "Yes," and the Magistrate remarked, "That's what I. thought."

"Mr. Freeman's remark, must be challenged," said Mr. W. H. Ward at today's meeting. Mr. Ward said there had been a real shortage of labour. It was useless to deny that. He had advertised four times for labour and did not get one reply. The Magistrate had no right to comment unless he had all the facts.

Mr. R. Grieve suggested that many farmers did not go to the right source first for labour: If they applied to a placement office for labour and could not obtain any, then, they would have a real case.

No motion was put forward.