FARM LABOUR SHORTAGE

Greymouth Evening Star, 27 February 1937, Page 2

FARM LABOUR SHORTAGE

MAGISTRATE’S COMMENT. [FEB PBESS ASSOCIATION.] INVERCARGILL, February 26. Reference to the comment of Mr W. H. Freeman, S.M., in the Magistrate’s Court at Gore this week on the shortage of farm labour was made at a meeting of the Southland Provincial Executive of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union to-day. Mr Freeman’s comment was made when he questioned a judgment debtor, and asked him if he had tried to find work on a farm. An assurance that the debtor had done so without success was given, and the magistrate asked if the cry made by farmers throughout the country that they could not get men was not “all humbug.” The debtor said “Yes,” and the Magistrate remarked, “That’s what I thought.” “Mr Freeman’s remark must be challenged,” said 1 Mr W. H; Ward, at to-day’s meeting. Mr Ward said there had been a real shortage of labour. It was useless to deny that he advertised four times for labour, and did not get one reply. The Magistrate had no right to comment unless he had all the facts, Mr R. Grieve suggested that many farmers did not go to the right source first for labour. If they applied to the placement office for labour, and could not obtain any, then they would have a real case.

No resolution was put forward.