LABOUR FOR FARMS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22864, 20 October 1937, Page 19

LABOUR FOR FARMS

AX ACUTE SCARCITY WORSE THAN LAST SPRING ' ; OTHER WORK PREFERRED The labour scarcity on farms is now much more acute than it was at this period last year, according to Mr. A. K. Hobinson, secretary of the Auckland district of the New Zealand Farmers' Union. Mr. Robinson said he was receiving many complaints, and the position with the development of the season was desperate on many farms, for cows had tp be tended and milked, even if there were no outside labour to assist. Even when labour was secured, it often comprised men avlio had come from other farms. Thus, he knew of one farmer'who, after four" months of efiorts to get labour, had secured the services of a man, but this man had been employed elsewhere in the country. So far as the Placement Service was concerned, there were many youths and young men registered as out of employment, but they were trained in occupations other than farming, and they did not care to lose a chance of getting back into their trades by taking work in the country. "Really," continued Mr. Robinson, "it would be amazing if the supply of farm labour were not inadequate. There are lots of capable men used to farm work, and who have learned to drive trucks, who naturally prefer to get other employment, sucli as on public works, at higher wages."

Mr. Robinson said that some of the county councils were unable to secure the labour required because married men who wanted work did not care to be engaged long distances from their homes.