FARM LABOUR SHORTAGE

Greymouth Evening Star, 10 December 1937, Page 7

FARM LABOUR SHORTAGE

“SUSTENANCE” MEN’S REFUSAL

FARMERS’ UNION PROTEST

[per press association.]

WELLINGTON, December 10.

At a meeting of the Dominion Executive of the New Zealand Farmers Union, it was decided to ask the Gov'ernment that the sustenance regulations and their • administration be tightened up, so that no sustenance be paid to men capable of performing labour, and refusing to undertake work when it was offered to them. It was pointe dout that during the present peak farming operations, there is a real shortage of labour, and it was felt the position was rather absurd when able-bodied men were receiving sustenance, and’ farmers and others were qalled on for the taxation to provide this money, when they badly needed assistance. _ Instances were given of men' refusing to accept work they were quite capable of performing, preferring to accept sustenance.

( STATE MORTGAGES

The Executive unanimously passed the following remit: That an objection be lodged to mortgagors having to increase their mortgages by two per cent, when transferred to the State Mortgage Corporation, in order to obtain the' Corporation’s rate of interest, and to the contribution of two per cent'., in addition to the mortgage, for new mortgages. It was stated now that the State was solely responsible for the bonds, there was' no need for additional security, which really represented an unacknowledged capital contribution of two per cent, of the loan. FARMERS AND HOSPITALS WELLINGTON, December 10. The following remits were passed by the Dominion Executive of the Farmers’ Union:—That the present iniquitous system of rating for hospital and charitable aid should be abolished. That .revenue for the construction and maintenance of public hospitals, which constitute a national service, should be-financed on a national basis.