FARM LABOUR

Lake Wakatip Mail, Issue 4572, 2 July 1942, Page 3

FARM LABOUR

EARLY APPLICATION DESIRED OUTLINE OF PROCEDURE An appeal to farmers to make their labour requirements known immediately has been issued by the president of the Otago Provincial Council of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union (Mr D. H. Cockburn). In a statement based on his observations as a member of the Southland Man-Power Committee, Mr Cockburn said that the question whether a sufficient number of men would be available or prepared to carry out essential farm work during the coming spring and summer period was causing much concern.

Arrangement of Assistance “In order that the extent of the labour requirements may be ascertained sufficiently early to permit of the necessary assistance to farmers being arranged,” Mr Cockburn said, “I strongly.urge every farmer at once to survey his programme for the coming season, to decide on his minimum labour requirements and apply immediately through his branch of the Farmers’ Union or Primary Production Council for the necessary labour, indicating the date on which the nominated man or volunteer labour is required. The branch concerned will, on receipt of the applications from the farmer, immediately place them before the proper authorities with a view to arranging for the necessary labour. “Where the application is for the release of a man from a military camp,” Mr Cockburn continued, “the request should be limited to men in camps in the South Island, and, wherever possible, the name of the camp and the soldier’s number should be quoted. It is desired to stress that, except in cases of extreme urgency, men will not be released from overseas camps, and it is also undesirable that applications should be made for the withdrawal of men from any North Island camps. Maintaining Production

“The extreme importance of maintaining and, in fact, increasing the production of essential food supplies fully justifies the release of men from training for a period,” Mr Cockburn added. “In order, therefore, that the best possible results will be obtained and, above all, that a hold-up through a short age of labour at the critical time will be avoided, I trust that the farming community will assist by making its requirements known in good time. ’ ’