THE HARVEST.

Northern Advocate, 30 November 1916, Page 2

THE HARVEST.

FARMERS BECOMING ANXIOUS.

(By Telegraph.—Press Association). WELLING TON, November 29. Employers are beginning to find serious difficulty in securing labour in the cities, and the constant demand for the best of young men for the reinforcement drafts makes it certain that the position is not likely to be relieved until the war is ended. As 't is of vital importance that the country's productive effort should net be slackened, but that the supply of meat, cheese, butter, and wool shall continue to be sent to the Mother Country in undiminished quantity, the Hon. W. D. S. Mat Donald, Minis;-r of Agriculture, took early action to investigate the labour situation in relation ta the agricultural industry, and he was able to present a complete summary of the position. This is being pul. before the Minister of Defence, and (h< , Minister of Munitions and Sup;>lirs. ;' : both are closely concerned in the same problem. "The evidence as a whole," remarked the Hon. W. D. S. Mas Donald. "does not warrant the conclusion that the coming harvest stands in any serious danger of not being garnered ! owing to shortage of labour. It does, however, disclose, the fact that labour of the right kind is shorter than ever before, and that the farming community is aware of it, and is tackling the difficulty in the right spirit of selfhelp. Farmers are arranging to cooperate with each other during the busiest times. I have suggested to the Minister in charge of the. Returned Soldiers" Information Department that the names of men skilled in farm work could be registered, and employment of this description given to returned men. The investigations carried out by the officers of the Ag. ricultural Department, in the North Island, generally speaking, is to the effect that although labour will be shorter than ever before, farmers will, in most districts, manage to pull thro'us'li by assisting each other.