FARM LABOUR

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21961, 19 November 1934, Page 7

FARM LABOUR

RELIEF CAMPS PREFERRED BENEFITS AT CHRISTMAS A suggestion that farm hands in some districts are leaving their employment to go into relief camps in order to receive the Christmas benefits which the Unemployment. Board proposes to grant, is made by a Waitakaruru farmer in a letter to the Herald. "The farmer has been tremendously handicapped this year on account of the acute shortage of farm labour," he writes, "and the position is rapidly becoming worse. In this district alone I know of three farm hands who have left good positions and gone into relief camps in order that they might receive the free Christmas gift and fortnight's holiday which, I understand, the benevolent Unemployment Board is giving to all unemployed who have been in camp for the short period of one month before Christmas. One wonders if the same thing is occurring in other districts. If so, steps should be taken to remedy the position immediately." The matter was referred to Mr. Vf. Slaughter, officer in charge of unemployment in Auckland. He said the correspondent apparently had more knowledge on the subject of Christmas benefits than he had. Some announcements had been made as to possible "Clmstmas gifts," but as yet he had received no official communication from the Unemployment Board on the matter. In any case, there were certain to be safeguards to prevent the abuse of any scheme adopted.