THE FARM LABOUR PROBLEM

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22621, 8 January 1937, Page 13

THE FARM LABOUR PROBLEM

Sir, —The Hon. H. T. Armstrong again endeavours to pass off lightly the crisis which faced many farmers in the Waikato in the matter of farm labour. The acute shortage of assistance has passed because we realised the plight the Government put us in, and as far as harvesting is concerned this year a much earlier start was made, and an extraordinary concentration to speed up the work was undertaken. The Morrinsville camp was established at .a time when men were already scouring the district looking in vain for harvesting. Men I spoke to told me that the general disinclination to engage labour was due to the rate of wage demanded. Many women and small boys entered the fields, otherwise greater difficulty would have resulted. Mr. Armstrong must know that a desperate need existed for milkers, the shortage forcing women and children into sheds. What is required is a series of meetings, to go into the crisis, which, from Mr. Armstrong's remarks, the Government fails to recognise. There is no doubt about it, the Government has ridden roughshod over the farmers. For the sake of our wives and families there is a limit. Solo.