LABOUR FOR HARVESTING

Evening Star, Issue 25634, 7 November 1945, Page 4

LABOUR FOR HARVESTING

VOLUNTARY POOL SOUGHT APPEAL TO CITY WORKERS Arrangements to provide farmers in Otago with the maximum assistance during the harvesting season are being made by the National Service Department in association with the Department of Agriculture. The district manpower officer, Mr S. C. Bingham, stated to-day that, although harvesting labour would not be available from the Army during the summer and autumn months, steps were being taken to recruit voluntary labour for the periods when assistance would be most needed on the farms. The department was appealing for the utmost co-operation from both workers and farmers, so that the scheme might be operated! to the best advantage. "We expect that farmers will' experience some difficulty in obtaining additional labour for the busy season which is approaching," Mr Bingham said. "It will accordingly be necessary to recruit the maximum of voluntary labour to assist /the producers at this time." The department was endeavouring to arrange a pool of schoolboy labour of 16 years and upwards for seasonal work during the holiday vacation. Letters had! been sent to all schools asking for the names and addresses of boys willing to undertake seasonal farm work for the whole or portion of their holidays. WEEK-ENDS AND HOLIDAYS. " We are also organising voluntary oivilian labour for week-ends or during annual holiday periods, so that aJarge number of workers will be available to go to the country, as they a¥e required," he continued. The departments hoped that there would be a sufficient response from workers in the cities and smaller towns to meet the requirements of the fanners during the harvesting season. Mr Bingham emphasised that it was essential, if the scheme was to be at all effective, for farmers to notify the department as early as possible of their requirements of labour, together with the approximate dates and the periods for which the labour■ would be.necessary. More precise information could be given later, but it was desirable that the department should be in s position to judge the probable requirements. The department hoped that as many workers as possible would volunteer to assist the farmers during holidays and week-ends, so that they would-be enabled to overcome the shortages of labour which were likely to be experienced. Those willing to assist should register with the department, stating when they would be available.