LABOUR ON FARMS

Evening Post, Volume CXXIII, Issue 58, 10 March 1937, Page 8

LABOUR ON FARMS

' (To the Editor.) Sir, —Mi". J. R. Lloyd Hammond, president of the Wellington Central Provincial Executive of the New Zealand Farmers' Union, speaking at FeiJding recently, stated: "I think this will effectively. answer the Minister when he doubts the assertion that there is • a shortage of labour for farms." He then proceeded to say that from 218 replies received there was a shortage of labour in 143 cases, no shortage in 39 cases, present. labour was satisfactory in 135 cases, and present labour was unsatisfactory in 59 cases. "The total of cases thus classified is 374, not 218 as stated by Mr. Hammond. Mr. Hammond further stated that there are 69 men wanted to fill vacancies in addition to 44 casuals, a total of 113 me" required. How are the 143 vacancies to be filled by the 113 men required? '~,., A case recently came to the writers knowledge of a farmer passing through Wellington applying to the Placement office for a shepherd. One was immediately sent to interview him. The shepherd's qualifications were satisfactory and he was told to return at 10 o'clock the following morning for definite engagement. The shepherd thereupon expended his last few shillings in new equipment for his expected position, but imagine his disappointment when next morning he learnt that his prospective employer had gone to Auckland, leaving no explanation or instruction to either the Serd or Placement Office. Did this sheepfarmer want a shepherd, or "Reverting -to the 44 casuals mentioned in Mr. Hammond's statement it would be interesting to know what the casual work consisted of. Do=s Mr. Hammond expect an army of men to standby for an odd day's work here fnd there? If so, who are to keep them and their dependants between iotos' Then we finally come to the twelve men who have left their jobs farms to go on public works. Mr Hammond does, not state over what period this exodus has taken place.I am, etc., MQRE FACTS _