FARM LABOUR

Evening Post, Volume CXXX, Issue 26, 30 July 1940, Page 4

FARM LABOUR

MEN AVAILABLE

POSITION SURVEYED

Surveying the position of farm labour in the Dominion, the Minister | of Labour (the Hon. P. C. Webb) stated last evening that there was still a large number of experienced farm workers awaiting engagement. Apart from nearly 1500 experienced men enrolled with the State Placement Service, there were nearly 1750 experienced workers at present employed on various State works who were ready to transfer to farm jobs as soon as required. Over 1600 inexperienced State employees were also available if wanted. "In every instance these men on State undertakings who are shown as available for farm work have volunteered to take it up because they are eager to assist the farmer and the Government in the carrying out of New Zealand's part in the war effort," said Mr. Webb. He emphasised the advantages attached to the engagement of married men, and said that there was a marked tendency on the part of farmers to apply for young single inexperienced men whose wages could be subsidised under the subsidy scheme known as No. 4F. Already during the present month 135 men had been placed under this scheme and the bulk of them had been young single men. Nofo,~~;however,;this' type of worker was' becoming much more difficult to provide. EMPLOYERS' PREFERENCE. On the other hand, departmental statistics showed that at July 19 there were available 2213 experienced and 2438 inexperienced married men. Taking into account State employees who had volunteered for farm work there were also 969 single experienced men available at that date, but a large proportion of them resided in the South Island, "where the demand was not yet so great. Mr. Webb urged farmers to take these single and married experienced men wherever possible. There would be no objection to farmers expressing a preference for experienced youths and young single inexperienced men in their applications, but they would assist placement officers greatly if they would agree to take married men when others were not available. Many of the experienced and inexperienced married men available were prepared, with the accommodation allowance being paid by the Government, to go on to farms without their families and be regarded from the point of view of the farmers as single employees. Mr. Webb emphasised the need for placement officers to be advised immediately of all farm labour requirements. Since the beginning of July the State Placement Service, he said, had filled 488 farm positions and 42 of the men placed had been' State employees.