Farm Labour Emergency Service

Northern Advocate, 11 August 1938, Page 2

Farm Labour Emergency Service

A motion brought before file* annual meeting of the Kaitaia Co-operative Dairy Company by Mr Morphcti was: ••That a farm-manager service be established by the company, with the object of: ('ll Making available experienced labour for the benefit of a .supplier in the event of his being incapacitated by illness or injury; that, the labour provided shall be an indemnity from the subscription fund; (3) that the service be extended if labour is available. to provide (a) temporary labour to bridge the gap when a worker leaves on short notice, and (b) temporary labour, allowing a farmer to lake a holiday."

Mr Morphett said that not only was the inducement offered by the 1 Public Works? Department interfering with farm labour, but there was a new factor in the training of the New Zealand army which quite a number of young people, influenced by tlie prospect of learning a trade, were taking up. There was the greatest difficulty in procuring labour for the farm, and, in addition to losing labour from outside, the sons of farmers were seeking ether employment. This was very hard on the women and children, and some emergency service should be established, so that if a farmer should be ill he could be assisted over his difficulties. The chairman said that something

was being, brought before suppliers, of which no notice had been given, and there was a risk of a good thing being flatly turned down. He sympathised with the scheme, which had been taken up by the Farmers’ Union. On the motion of Mr Hanlon, consideration was deferred, and in the meantime suppliers- are to be. provided with particlars by circular.