FARM LABOUR FROM AUSTRALIA

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXI, 20 November 1937, Page 8

FARM LABOUR FROM AUSTRALIA

RESPONSE TO ADVERTISEMENT

ACTION BY FARMERS’ UNION

luy Telegraph Pi'ens Association!

AUCKLAND, I9th November

A move to secure farm labour from outside the Dominion has been initialled by the Auckland Provincial Farm* ers’ Union, which to-morrow advertises that numerous applications for employment on farms have been received from New South Wales. This step has been taken by tlie union on account of the inability of New Zealand farmers to obtain the requisite labour to carry on their operations.

An advertisement inviting Australians to make application for situations in New Zealand was inserted in the “Sydney Morning Herald on Otb November by the Auckland provincial secretary, Mr A. E. Robinson, to whom persons interested were invited to write. In a statement to-day Mr Robinson said that by the Mariposa’s mail this week 89 applications had been received, some of which covered scveial men.' The matter of arranging for the transport of the applicants had created a difficulty, continued Mr Robinson. If an attempt was made to obtain a refund of any passage money from subsequent payment of wages by farmers, that course might be deemed illegal and to amount to an indenture. “It is no use advertising for labour at Auckland as men cannot be got,” said Mr Robinson. “Labour can be supplied from Australia if the Government will arrange to get the men here, and we propose to ask tlie Government to make the necessary arrangements.' Meantime particulars of Australian applicants were being made available to all interested farmcis, ,