FARM LABOUR

Evening Star, Issue 23729, 9 November 1940, Page 9

FARM LABOUR

GOVERNMENT MEASURES TO MEET PROBLEM CONSIDERABLE SUCCESS CLAIMED [PtK United JPhess Association.] WELLINGTON, November 8. “ If ever the farm labour problem has been honestly tackled by a government, it has been so dealt with by Labour,” said the Minister of Labour (Mr Webb), in a review to-day of tho position throughout New Zealand. “ This season has been a particularly difficult one,” he said, “ because in spite of all the Manpower Committees have done thousands of farm workers have gone into the military forces. The withdrawal of these men from the industry has intensified the problem of meeting the demand for farm workers. Much has been done to meet the abnormal situation. Although we do not claim to have solved all the problems, it can be claimed that the Government has adopted new measures to ensure that farmers get the necessary labour to maintain production, which is an essential part of the country’s war «ffort. “ Steps have been taken to enable tho farmers to obtain seasonal workers without delay this year,” Mr Webb continued. 11 Farmers distant from placement offices may apply direct to the local bodies employing scheme 13 labour. In the past application had to be .made through the State placement officer, who had to communicate with the local body, and this meant a certain amount of delay.” Some of the other measures the Government had taken were outlined by Mr Webb. “ What is known as scheme 4F provides for subsidies to farmers who employ less-experienced men,” he said. “ The subsidy is 30s a week for the first sis months and 15s a week for the second half-year. By that subsidy we have encouraged tho employment of over 800 men whom the farmers would not otherwise have employed. Then we have arranged temporary accommodation to be supplied by the Public Works Department for married and single farm workers. The latest return showed that 315 units of accommodation have been provided through the facilities made available by the Government. Further Applications are being received which will be dealt with expeditiously. In addition there is the farm housing scheme, under which farmers can obtain financial assistance. SEPERATION ALLOWANCE. “ Another point,” the Minister said, “ is that to encourage the employment of married men an allowance of £1 a week is paid to men separated from their families. Over 100 men are receiving this allowance in cases where married quarters are not available.” The Minister also referred to the assistance given to farmers under tho scheme known as 48, which aims at the development and improvement of farm lauds. Assistance, be said, was available up to 75 per cent, of the labour cost for land clearing, drainage, sub-divisional fencing, top-dressing of difficult country, etc. “During the past 18 months,” Mr Webb said, “ about 138,000 acres have been-eleared ; ■ In addition, 1,232 miles of- drains have been dug or improved, 359 miles of fences have been erected, and other extensive developmental work carried out. At the present time there are approximately 3,000 men employed, against over 4,000 men sis months ago. This reduction is due to the_ diversion of a great number to ordinary farm work. I must also mention the assistance which the Public Works Department • has been , able to give farmers in developing farm lands with heavy machinery. War-time needs have prevented us from doing all we wanted to do, but farmers on the West Coast and in the King Country are thankful for this kind of assistance. “ Every farmer knows about the operations of the State Placement Service and the benefits it_ has brought to them,” Mr'_ Webb said. “It has played a prominent part in the difficult problem of filling farm vacancies. The big_ majority of the vacancies have occurred' in the North Island, but the State Placement Service has transferred many men from the South Island, where _ plenty of labour was available. While there is still a considerable demand for farm labour of certain tynes, the vacancies recorded with the Placement' Service have dropped considerably during recent weeks.

. “The Government is ready at all times to do everything possible to help the farmers,” Mr Webb concluded. “ Although considerable success has been achieved in providing farm, labour, the farmers can rest assured that the Government will not relax its effort.”