Farm Labour Shortage

Manawatu Times, Volume 61, Issue 290, 8 December 1936, Page 2

Farm Labour Shortage

DISCUSSION WITH MINISTER HAMILTON, Dec. 4. For three hours to-day the Minister of Labour, the Hon. H. T. Armstrong, was engaged in a discussion with members of the Waikato executive of tho Farmers’ Union in connection with farm labour problems. The president, Mr S. N. Ziman, presided over a large attendance.

In his opening remarks Mr Ziman referred to the Minister’s recent broadcast address, and suggested- that that address indicated that the Minister did not fully appreciate how acute the farm labour problem was. Mr G. Adler (Rangiriri) claimed that the position had been exaggerated. There was no evidence of shortage of labour in Rangiriri and Te Kauwhata districts. He thought the farmers were to blame for tho conditions owing to the way they overworked their employees. Legacy of the Depression

Mr G. J. Bierce (Ohaupo) said he regarded the present situation as a legacy of tho depression. The trouble was duo to the financial condition of the farmer and the rising tide of costs. Mr Pierce contended that there was not an acute shortage of farm labour. Mr A. T. Bryan (Te Awamutu) advocated a system of apprenticeship for farm youths. There was a lack of trained milkers and some system should be devised for teaching young men the elementary principles of farming. Mr R. H. Feisst (Cambridge) expressed surprise at Mr Pierce’s statement, and said that within the last fortnight since the harvesting season commenced hero had been a very keen demand for casual labour on farms. The prices offering for labour were depriving farmers of their permanent hands. Wages of Unskilled Men Mr-Feisst said ho thought it was very unfair to exect the farmers to pay full wages to unskilled men. He asked if the Minister would consider the subsidising of the wages of these men. Air F. C. Roberts (Te Kawhai) said there was an acute shortage of keen and willing youths who wanted to take up farming as a life’s occupation. Air Roberts quoted figures to show how difficult it was for farmers to pay the high rate of wages which the speaker thought was warranted. He considered that skilled farm-hands should bo paid 2s a day more than ordinary labourers. Farming had to be made more attractive. They should have a better monetary return,-for farming, as it was, was a dead-end occupation. Air D. B. Higgins (Alatamata) said he could find farm jobs for 26 men. He thought the whole attitude towards farming in New Zealand was wrong. It had been built up on a wrong basis, and should be reorganised. Air Ziman considered it a mistake of the Government to apply pressure on men to take up. farm work. Such a policy was detrimental to the men and to the farming industry. Control of Monetary Machine That the land problem was at tho bottom of the difficulty was the opinion advanced by Air W. Harbutt (Cambridge). There were large areas of unimproved land that should be fully used an opportunity shrould be given to young men to take up land on their own account. Air Harbutt also considered there was need for monetary Teform and for the institution of compensating prices for farm produce. The Alinister said he endorsed. Mr Harbutt’s remarks. He believed there was need for the control of the monetary machine, and it was tho intention of the Government to control that machine.

Air Armstrong said he had had investigations made into farm labour conditions, and it had been found that there was no shortage except in tho Waikato. The inquiry showed that on some farms the conditions were not satisfactory.

There was a great demand for youths, said Mr Armstrong, and double the number of thoso leaving secondary schools this year could bo absorbed in industry and in shops. It was not going to help tho farmers to lower the standard in other industries, but something had to be done to help tho farming industry. Unemployed men able to milk were not available, as the youths had not-been trained for the work. Half-holiday Question.

The Minister said he was looking at the half-holiday from the workers’ point of view, although he realised the difficulty regarding the evening milking. When the Agricultural Workers’ Act came up for review at the end of the season, the holiday question would be readjusted. The factory inspectors were not going round the country looking for breaches of the Act. The Gov eminent expected commonsense to gov ern the position. Unless the worker complained the matter would not be investigated, said Mr Armstrong. If the worker insisted on his half-holiday, the law required the farmer to give it to him. Mr Armstrong 6aid be approved of the apprenticeship scheme for farm youths, and it was possible that the present Flock House scheme would be .extended,

If the men to be employed on harvesting would not work, then the Min ister did not think the State was justified in keeping them. He thought that to subsidise unskilled farm labour would be dangerous. It would be better to increase the guaranteed price. After the Minister had answered further questions, he was accorded a vote of thanks.