CAMP OF HARVESTERS

Matamata Record, Volume XIX, Issue 1787, 30 November 1936, Page 4

CAMP OF HARVESTERS

TO BE AT MORRINSVILLE Announcement by Government The announcement by the Minister of Labour (Hon. H. T. Armstrong) that the Government proposes to establish a camp of men for harvesting at Morrinsville has aroused great interest among farmers of the Waikato. For a start accommodation would be provided for 50 or 60 men., The Government will provide the tents and cookhouses, and also will supply transport to and from farms over a fairly wide agricultural territory. Morrinsville has been selected as a point from which to supply harvesting labour. A wide territory can be served by the u,se of motor transport, whic)i will be provided ,by • the Government. , t ’ Tfye establishment of the harvesting labour camp will represent the initial experiment. If it proves a success, the Government hopes to extend it to other districts where harvest time is later. As the men are on sustenance they will lose nothing when unable to do harvesting work owing to 'wet weather. When conditions are favourable, however, farmers will be expected to pay fair rates for a fair day’s work. It cannot be doubted that many men now on sustenance could, if given the opportunity in a healthy environment, do good work at haymaking, and other farm work. It is reasonable to anticipate that a number of the men so employed would take up permanent work on farms. \ Mr. R. Coulter’s Comment

Interviewed by a representative of the Morrinsville Star, Mr. R. Coulter, M.P. for Waikato, stated. that he was fully alive to the position regarding harvest labour in Waikato. He had made representations to the Government over a period of some months, and he could claim that the action being taken was mostly as i* result of these. The member stated that it must be understood that the proposal was purely an experimental one, but some good must come of it. The Government was definitely anxious to offer work to men at present on sustenance. He had been co-opted with the Minister of Labour for handling the position in the Waikato. Ministerial Visit. Mr. Coulter stated that the Minister of Labour, Hon. H. T. Armstrong, had informed, him that he would visit Waikato on Thursday and Friday of this week. He would meet representatives of farmers at Hamilton and address a public meeting at Cambridge. The member had urged that a visit to Morrinsville should be included in the itinerary, and the Minister had stated that he would comply with the request.if at all possible. The Minister was very desirous of seeing the position himself.