LABOUR ON THE LAND

Matamata Record, Volume XIX, Issue 1789, 7 December 1936, Page 6

LABOUR ON THE LAND

FARMERS MEET MINISTER Discussion at Morrinsville Harvesters at 2s 6d an Hour That no time would be lost in providing men now on sustenance for the harvest labour camp at Morrinsville, and that 2s 6d an hour would probably be the wage for these men —these points were announced by the Minister of Labour, Hon. H. T. Armstrong, at the conclusion of his meeting with Morrinsville district farmers in the Civic Theatre on Thursday morning.

Mr. S. A. Ferguson, president of the Morrinsville branch of the Farmers’ Union, presided over about 60 farmers, and associated with the Minister were Messrs. R. Coulter, M.P. for Waikato, and ! C. A. Barrell, M.P. for Hamilton.

Farmers’ Viewpoint Mr. Ferguson congratulated the Labour Party on the energy it had shown in putting its policy into effect; and also congratulated the Minister on choosing Morrinsville as the site for a harvesting camp. Morrinsville was the centre of one of the greatest dairying districts in New Zealand. Farmers could all employ more labour if they had the money to do so, said Mr. Ferguson. Nearly all the farmers could employ an extra man if they received a price for their produce that would enable them to expend more in wages. Farmers should be put in the position to attract the cream of the labour to Hie farms, and this could only be done by giving them a higher return for their produce. In reply, the Minister expressed his pleasure and surprise at meeting go many farmers. He had supposed he would have been conferring only • with the executive of the Farmers’ Union. ‘ Morrinsville had been chosen for the initial experiment in a camp of labour for harvesting, said the Minister. In the towns there were many men physically fit and able to undertake the work required of them on • the farms. The difficulty was to • place them in the country. They

would not cost the Government much more to keep in camp than if they were in the towns on sustenance. The men would be transported to the farms daily. Morrinsville had been selected as the site of the first camp becauge of the representations of Messrs. R. Coulter and C. A. Barrell, M.’sP.

Wages and Lunch In discussion on the experimental camp of harvesters at Morrinsville, Mr. Ferguson said it would suit farmers better to employ extra men all the time rather than to have men come out from the camps for a few hours a day. Farmers could only get at the hay for about five hours a day between milkings. “ There has been no announcement as to the wages to be paid to the men from the harvesting camps,” said the Minister. “ The farmer will pay for working time only.”

Mr. B; J. Pirrit: You cannot get the men off the unemployed unless you give them lunch, morning and afternoon tea. Would the men bring their own lunch from the camp ? Mr. Ferguson explained to the Minister that it was usual to give harvesters mid-day dinner and afternoon tea.

The Minister: They may be able to bring lunch from the camp.

Bristles With Difficulties

“ It bristles with difficulties,” admitted the Minister* when several other question as to how the camp would be run were asked. Would farmers have to insure harvesters from the camp against injury? was one question. The Minister thought they would. Whether the men would work on Sundays if the weather was suitable was another point not answered. It was supposed they would work if required on Sundays. Would 2s 6d an Hour Do? The Minister suggested 2s 6d an hour for the actual hours worked, with the usual refreshments provided for haymakers. This met with general agreement. There appeared to be a divergence of views on the matter of whether farmers would be expected to provide morning tea, lunch or afternoon tea, or whether the men. should bring their own. Applications for men can now be made to the postmaster. Houses For Married Couples To overcome the shortage of houses on farms the Government had offered money to dairy companies at 8 per cent. With a view to building house at £250 to £3OO less than was the case at present the Government had embarked on a scheme for producing houses by mass production. “ Money will be available to enable farmers to build houses for married couples,” said the Minister. “I have the authority from the Government to state that.” Appeal for Co-operation Before the meeting concluded, Mr. R. Coulter, M.P., asked farmers for their co-operation in the camp. “ It is a try-out, an earnest endeavour to get at grips with the problem,” he said. “ It is going to be an exceedingly difficult job,” said Mr. Coulter in assuring farmers that they would get the best labour available, even if it was not labour used to farm work. Thanks to the Minister In calling for a vote of thanks to the Minister and members, the chairman expressed the hope that

Mr. Arhistrong would revisit Morrinsville later in the season.

Mr. Armstrong said he hoped to return when the camp was in going order, if time permitted.