MORE PRODUCTION

Evening Post, Volume CXXIX, Issue 121, 23 May 1940, Page 17

MORE PRODUCTION

DOMINION'S NEED

FURTHER HELP FOR FARMERS

An appeal to farmers to co-operate with the Government in its efforts to increase primary production : was; made last night by the Minister of Labour (the Hon. P. C. Webb), when announcing an increase in the subsidy payable for inexperienced farm workers. The Minister briefly reviewed what, had been done to assist the farmers, and said that the Government now; proposed to give them still further aid, which, it was hoped, would result in the Dominion's output of prim-, ary produce being considerably increased. It was proposed to do this by increasing the subsidy .paid under Scheme No. 4F on the wages of un-^ trained workers, by releasing public works employees so that they could1 take farm work offering, and by paying married farm workers who could not obtain accommodation for their families a special or house' allow-, ance. Mr. Webb said that the subsidy Scheme No. 4B had been a great boon to farmers. Under this scheme the State paid to the farmer 75 per cent, of the total wages cost incurred by him in undertaking approved work to increase the productive capacity of his farm. Scheme No. 4B had been going for several years, and the fact that the carrying capacity of New Zealand's farm land was as high as at present was due, to a considerable extent, 'to the results obtained from it. As a result of the work done under Scheme No. 4B during the year ended March 31, the capacity of the Dominion's farm lands1 to carry stock had been increased to the extent of nearly 50,000 sheep, nearly 7000 dairy cows, and about' 1000 beef and store cattle. INCREASE IN SUBSIDY. Stating that^ the extraordinary conditions associated with the war called for extraordinary measures, Mr. Webb said that the Government had decided to increase the subsidy paid on the wages of inexperienced farm workers from £1. a week to £1 10s a week during the first six months of employment, while during the second six months where generally no subsidy had been paid, 15s a week would now be available. The necessary forms for the variation of Scheme No. 4F were already being prepared, and a further statement upon this scheme would shortly be made. He was confident that farmers would see in the revised Scheme 4F a generous and serious attempt to overcome their shortage of experienced farm workers. In mentioning the shortage of rural accommodation, the Minister said that this was an important factor in deterring married men from taking up farm work, and while the Government had in hand measures for rural housing construction the urgency of the farm labour problem had prompted the Government to encourage inexperiencedi married men to take up farm engagements by paying to them a special allowance over and above the ordinary wages earned .by them. This, the Minister thought, would enable a very good type of married worker to become available for farm work, and a number of very suitable men for farm engagements, under this scheme could be released from public - works and allowed 'to take the farm jobs offering. Further details concerning the special; allowances would also shortly be published;. ' Mr. Webfc-eqncluded by saying that tjie farmer .knew how important his job was today, and he only" wanted the opportunity to: show what he could do in the way of expanding production. With the generous assistance Which the Government was now giving, the farmer had a much clearer road ahead of him. He appealed to farmers to co-operate to the full in the war effort by letting the Placement Service know immediately of present and expected1 labour requirements and by assisting the Government in the training of the necessary inexperienced men to take the place of others called up for service. "There are today 500 physically fit but inexperienced men available to proceed to farms under the amended subsidised scheme," said Mr. Webb. "The farmers' opportunity to co-operate in the direction indicated is, therefore, present at the moment."