FARM LABOUR

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21597, 15 September 1933, Page 12

FARM LABOUR

CONCERN AT SHORTAGE RELIEF CAMPS A FACTOR SOME PROPOSED REMEDIES ENCOURAGEMENT FOR BOYS The acute shortage of farm labour continues to give concern to the dairying and pastoral industries. Tn yesterday's issue of the Herald, farmers advertised for 44 men and youths to help with milking and general farm work, at wages from 10s to 2os a week and found, and scores of other jobs were offered through the labour agencies. Only a small proportion of the jobs, however, is being filled. Yet the unemployment figures continue to grow, the latest total, 78,627, constituting a record. The opinion that the relief camps are contributing in no small measuro to the farmers' difficulties was advanced in many quarters yesterday, and the suggestion was made that a reduction in the pay of single men in the camps, or even the closing of several camps, would be a practical inducement for | young men to accept work on neighbouring farms. [ Criticism of the low wages offered | by many farmers, however, was equally general. But while opinions differed and remedies were numerous, there was almost complete unanimity in condemnation of the present system of relief measures, which tended to make | the State an employer of labour rather than private enterprise. The State as Employer "Surely the increasing unemployment figures must convince our politicians that something is wrong," said a leading stock and station agent, who discusses the problem every day with farmers. "I venture to say that New Zealand is the only country in the world whose army of unemployed is growing, and we are almost alone in our system of dealing with the probj lem. How can the Government justify its determination to give no remuneration without work? It has only one effect and that is to produce a labour shortage, the State becoming the largest employer of labour in the country. "The only way to overcome the difficulty is to offer sustenance only. There will then be a constant inducement to seek work. This is done in Britain and other countries, and is the only efficient way of dealing with the problem. Instead "of increasing, unemployment would then decrease, because it is only a small proportion of men who will accept that kind of charity. As long as the present system of giving work as well as sustenance is in operation the State will continue to do a disservice to industry." Jobs Waiting lor Boys

Mr. N. G. Gribble, secretary of the Auckland Boys' Employment Committee, said he could find country jobs for 50 boys straight away, but the majority of lads did not want farm work. During the past throe months ho had placed over 80 boys in country jobs every month, and the demand was now for 100 boys a month, but a number of factors, including the extremely low wages offered by some farmers, the dread of many town boys of country life, and the influence of parents who did not wish to be separated from their sons, prevented the supply from filling the demand. A widespread feeling that the Government was on the point of launching large building and construction schemes also led many youths and boys to hold 6n in the city on the chance of labour conditions easing. "As to wages on farms, it is interesting to note that the average scale is steadily increasing," said Mr. Gribble. "At the same time, it should be impressed upon some farmers that when economies are essential, wages should be attacked last of all. Not every farmer appreciates the value of boy labour, and a few years ago there were districts where no boys were engaged on farms. Once he had sent a boy to one farm, however, other farmers applied for similar help. * Scheme lor Saving

Mr. Gribble suggested that a practical measure to help the farmers would be for the Unemployment Board to contribute, say, 2s 6d a week to a savings fund for each youth taking up farm work. At the end of fire years the lad would have a small sum at his disposal which could be used as the nucleus of a fund for the subsequent purchase of a farm. It .was obvious, he said, that under present conditions a city lad, who had been educated at some expense with the object of qualifying him for a profession or trade, regarded farm work as a backwater in which ho must fill in time pending a return to prosperity. What was wanted was a change in psychology which would give farming a higher status and encourage lads to accept it as a profitable occupation instead of a temporary stand-by. /The prosecution of a sound smallholding scheme and the transfer of families to the land would also ease the position. "Another great need is to foster a palate for agriculture in our schools." added Mr. Gribble. "It is surprising to find that for one of our most important examinations Greek counts 500 marks and agriculture only 200. That should not be in a country whose very life-blood is agriculture."