FARM LABOUR PROBLEM

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22262, 9 November 1935, Page 15

FARM LABOUR PROBLEM

TARANAKI INVESTIGATION MEETING WITH MINISTER DISCUSSION IN COMMITTEE [BY TELEGRAPH —OWN CORRESPONDENT] NEW PLYMOUTH, Friday A serious attack on the problem of the shortage of farm labour is being made by the North Taranaki Executive of the Farmers' Union, which to-day had the assistance of the Minister of Employment, the Hon. S. G. Smith, in consultation. The executive had secured reports from all branches, all indicating a serious shortage of labour.

"It's the farmers own fault, because in many cases they don't treat the boys right." commented Mr. E. S. Allen, fie quoted a case in which a boy was charged 3d for a bath and Id for a towel, which was deducted from his wqges. "If there is to be any more of that stuff to come up I move wo go into committee," said Mr. T. T. Murray. There followed a long consultation in committee.

The Minister said the Government appreciated the farmers' difficulties in regard to the labour shortage, and was investigating the whole question thoroughly. The Government had already given sustenance to 316 farmers, ranging from 10s to 35s a week. The 4A scheme had been dropped, because, in many cases, it had been clearly exploited. Under this scheme farmers were given men for development work, but it had been found that J;he farmers were using them for ordinary farm work.

In Auckland and Canterbury districts the Unemployment Board was assisting with schemes for training of boys to be farmers, and the scheme could bo in operation in Taranaki if •there was a responsible committee to look after the boys' interests. Regarding the suggestion that the Unemployment Board should subsidise the wages of ordinary farm labourers, Mr. Smith said if it did this the board would be expected to subsidise the wages of the men employed in all industries. "It would be the same thing, and under those circumstances we would never cure unemployment," he said. "We would have a subsidised industry. We want industry to stand on its own feet and to restore the normal conditions as soon as possible by cutting out relief work." Speaking to the assertion that the Unemployment Board's scheme was taking men off farm work, the Minister said certifying officers had been instructed to keep a careful check on registers. A man. was not going "to be allowed to leave constant work to go on relief unless he could establish very good reasons. Farmers themselves could help by using the facilities offered by the labour bureaus, whose main reason for existence was not the handing out of relief, but the exchange of labour. Experience had shown, however, that the farmers would not apply. Mr. Smith stated that there would be a meeting of the Unemployment Board at New Plymouth next week and he invited a representative of the Farmers' Union to be present. He also agreed to the suggestion sthat a representative of the farm labourers should be present.