FARM LABOUR SCARCITY

Northern Advocate, 26 October 1935, Page 9

FARM LABOUR SCARCITY

POSITION DISCUSSED MEN REFUSED WORK BAD LEVIN# CONDITIONS ADMITTED. [Special to "Northern Advocate.”! PALMERSTON N., This Day. The conditions under which hired labour is expected to work on farms are tar from satisfactory, and for this reason there is great difficulty in securing labour for farm work. This was stated at a meeting of the Feilding branch of the Farmers’ Union, which expressed the opinion that living conditions should be improved. Discussion arose from an inquiry by the Unemployment Board for authentic information regarding the labour question in farming districts, and the citing of specific instances where farmers had been unable to secure labour. The’board said it had been contended that the reason for the difficulty in obtaining farm labour was that the workers preferred the conditions and w r ages under relief schemes. Mr W. G. Short said he did not blame the man who refused to accept farm jobs when they knew what the conditions were. Not only was it a matter of long hours, but the living conditions on many farms were very unattractive, and this was the cause of men and youths refusing to go on the land. He understood the women’s organisation was taking the question up 'as it was satisfied it was not right that boys should be invited to live and work under the present conditions. Mr Short stated a case of a girl who accepted a position to assist on a dairy farm at 10/ a week. She was expected to assist with 90 cows, cart out mangolds, and spend the afternoon at housework. Various members of the Farmers’ Union said that such conditions were not at all pleasant, and it was not placing the farmers in a very favourable light.