WHERE IS THE SHORTAGE ?

Matamata Record, Volume XIX, Issue 1791, 15 December 1936, Page 7

WHERE IS THE SHORTAGE ?

m * WORKER'S QUESTION 'g 1 ; Acute, Nevertheless fi;’ ' * l A hefty unemployed worker called at the Record office on Friday and demanded to know where the shorti age of farm labour was that there was “ so much squealing over.” The worker, who was aged about ’ 30 and of stocky build, stated that the postmaster had sent him to the newspaper office, and on being advised that no particular job was advertised at the moment, although there was plenty of work about, remarked in somewhat strained tones: “Where is this shortage of labour that farmers squeal so much about? I have travelled down from Rotorua and called at farms where I saw haymaking taking place, but no one wanted extra labour.” The newspaperman then took a hand and rang up the president of the Rotorua Sub-provincial Executive of the Farmers’ Union, Mr. D. 8.. Higgins, who obligingly came in from the hay paddock to answer the message. The worker was duly dispatched to; Mr. Higgins’ farm and was later placed in a job. This is the second worker to be placed by the same means during the last few days, and Mr. M. E. Gould, of Taihoa, to whom the first Was sent, told the last meeting oi the Matamata branch of the Farmers’ Union that the man was one of the best workers he had ever had. On Thursday no less than six farmers in the Matamata district were advertising in an Auckland paper for farm labour.