WORKERS SCARCE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22544, 8 October 1936, Page 14

WORKERS SCARCE

AN ACUTE SHORTAGE POSITION NOW CRITICAL GREAT DEMAND FOR YOUTHS An acuto shortage of farm labour has developed, variously ascribed as duo to the desertion of the farms by men who seek Public Works employment or sustenance in the city and to the fact that many dairy farmers are unable to pay the minimum rates of wages for adult workers prescribed in the Agricultural "Workers Act. Whatever may be the predominating reason for the scarcity, there is undoubtedly a widespread demand by farmers for boys and youths, the Auckland I>oys Employ - ment Committee having over 70 listed vacancies on various farms throughout the province. Moreover, it is getting on an average 10 applications a day for boys which invariably have to be rejected. Many instances are given of the critical condition on many dairy farms. I have calves running with cows and J cannot milk them, as I cannot get help," wrote one farmer to the Boys' Employment Committee. Another wrote: "If I cannot get someone soon I will bo compelled to turn out my cows. I recently underwent an operation and am at present doing more than I should do." These and writers in similar strain offered the official rates for youths, or more in some instances. One case reported elsewhere is that of a farmer in Dargaville who through labour difficulties sold 20 cows! and dried off 20 more. He is able to attend to the rest of the herd with the assistance of his family. "Forced Into Sheds"

It would appear that some farmers are able and willing to pay the fixed rates for adult labour. Others are apparently not able or prepared to pay them. A person in touch with the situation in Whangarei said there were experienced hands in surrounding districts ivho could not got work, although dairy farmers were short-handed. He knew of ofie farmer who had dismissed three men in one dav because he was unable to pay the official rates. Farmers wore inquiring for workers under 20 years, and were keen on securing married couples, both of whom would assist in milking. "The situation is forcing women into the sheds," said the Hkrald's informant. "Farmers are offering girls £1 to 30s a week to assist in milking. They are not getting sufficient girls, nor are they getting the youths they want." Various letters have been received by the Herald from correspondents on the subject of female labour. The Act. in its definition of agricultural workers, has made no distinction between male and female workers, and it prescribes rates of pav for workers employed on dairy farms. An authorative view is that if a woman employed on a dairy farm assists in the milking shed she comes within the definition of an agricultural worker, unless such assistance is to meet some special emergency such as sickness. Reason lor Shortage The opinion that the shortage of labour on the farms was due to men seeking other work or sustenance was expressed by a manager of a large stock and station agency. He said that in the past 12 months farmers had repeatedly experienced shortages. He had heard of instances in the last hay-making of men being offered as high as £1 a day and their keep. The farmer's great difficulty was in obtaining suitable labour. He did not think dismissals because of the difficulty in paying tlio official rates were general. "Hie average farmer is a decent chap and is prepared to pay decent wages," ho added. 'lt is the experience of Mr. N. G. Gribble. secretary of the Auckland Bovs' Employment Committee, that the fixing of wages under the Government scale had not increased the supply of boys willing to undertake farm work. Actually there were fewer boys available for the country than there had been at any time in the last 5J years. At one time the country offered opportunities for older boys who had missed chances in the cities, but the "wage for age" stipulation now served to preventsuch youths from turning to country life, as they mostly were without experience. The farmer naturally _ demanded some experience if he had to pay the higher rates for the older boy.

HOLIDAYS PROBLEM HALF-DAY PERIOD ASSESSING ANNUAL LEAVE Many dairy farmers are perturbed over * the ruiing that where a -halfholiday is given to workers it must start from noon and exclude the ing milking. Farmers in the province from whom inquiry was made state that they are willing to Rive their workers leave between milkings, but they cannot see how they can obtain substitutes for the evening milking. The whole question of holidays appears to be imperfectly understood. Section 15 of tho Agricultural Workers Act provides: "(1) Every agricultural worker who is employed on a dairy farm for not less than four weeks continuously shall be allowed by tho employer a holiday of not less than soven days in the aggregate for every 12 weeks of employment, and a holiday of a proportionate part of a week for every broken period of employment. The said holidays shall be allowed at' such time or times as the employer thinks fit, but so that not less than 28 days in tho aggregate shall be allowed during each year of employment, and in the event of- tho termination of the employment of an agricultural worker, all holidays to which lie is entitled shall bo allowed to him forthwith."

It is authoritatively pointed out that under the clause a farmer can count tho half-dav each week, provided that such half-day starts at noon and the employee is not thereafter called upon to work, in tho assessment of the statutory periods of holiday. Thus, the yearly holiday is 28 days. If the employee enjoyed a full half-day each week of tho year, lie would be entitled to two days only of paid holiday under the legislation. The Act makes no provision for holidays such as Christmas Day. Anzac Day or New Year's Day.

"Confused Farmer" writes on thr subject of holidays to the Hbrald: "It lias been customary for mo to give Saturday off between milkings, as it allows uiy men to play a game of tennis, etc. My men much piefer to have this with a fortnight's holiday and they feel that a month wotdd bo too long. Will I be allowed to keep on with this method or can my men claim a month's holiday on top of all this?" The official view on the subject is that the time allowed on Saturdays does not constitute the proper half-holiday, and so the employees concerned would be entitled to tho full 28 days in the year.