NOT SO SIMPLE
Vacancies on farms would continue until the farmer himself came to a realisation of the position and gave his employees a wage comparable with other workers, said the Hon. R. Eddy in the Legislative Council last week. In other words, if the farmer paid higher wages, he would solve his manpower difficulties. In proposing this apparently simple solution of one of the country's major production problems, Mr. Eddy overlooked one very important consideration —the ability of the farmer to pay more. It can be agreed that the wages of farm labourers should compare favourably with the rewards received by other sections of workers, and that if this were so more workers would be attracted to the primary industries, but the first essential is to place the farmer in a position that will enable him to meet the higher costs involved. Today the primary producer has no margin with which to cope with increased costs. Even if he'increases production by greater effort the extra reward he receives is limited by the fixed price he is paid for his. products. Until farm income is increased there is little virtue in suggesting that the farmer can overcome a shortage of labour by paying higher wages. What is he to pay them from?
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https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/EP19440328.2.20
Bibliographic details
Evening Post, Volume CXXXVII, Issue 74, 28 March 1944, Page 4
Word Count
212NOT SO SIMPLE Evening Post, Volume CXXXVII, Issue 74, 28 March 1944, Page 4
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