YOUNG FARMERS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23010, 11 April 1938, Page 14

YOUNG FARMERS

ASSISTANCE UEGED EFFECT OF CHANGED TIMES COMPETITION FOR LABOUR [by telegraph—own correspondent] NEW PLYMOUTH, Saturday That the day was past when a man could start at the bottom and work up until he became a landowner was the general feeling of a meeting of the South Taranaki executive of the Farmers' Union. Without assistance by the Government or the union, tho prospects of a young married man desirous of commencing farming on his own account were nil, it was stated. An address on the subject was given by Mr. S. J. Hollard, president of the Kapouga branch of tin* Farmers' Union.

Tilings had come to such a pass, said Mr. Hollard, that only through munificent parents or relatives could a man get a start to-day. It was a national matter. The Government was fast nationalising everything. All credit born of the farmers' produce was monopolised by the State, and was being lavished on public works and State enterprise. Soon, the whole structure would be assuming top-heavy proportions. Times of Enlightenment Arising out of this, Mr. Hollard continued, had grown almost insurmountable competition on tho labour market by the Public Works Department, and a drift to the towns by the young men in quest of higher wages. Fanning as a career liad to be made attractive. These were times of enlightenment, and no young married man would or could be expected to endure tho privations undergone by his lather 30 or 40 yeaio ago. Even though employees of all branches of industry and trado during tho depression had suffered severe setbacks and even penury, no one could give an example of a farmer, who no matter how hard pre&sed, had gone hungry. Question of Production

The Prime Minister, Rt, Hon. M. J. Savage, had said recently that production must be increased, added Mr. Hollurd. How could it increase? It could be done through setting up young: men on the laud, and to this end, the speaker said he would strongly urge the Farmers' Union to direct its energies. Since he had interested himself in the question, Mr. Hollard said he had received many inquiries from far afield urging him to make tho urgent need of young farm workers moro widely known.

"Before we can proceed with the scheme, we must know what the Government's policy will be," said Mr. J. S. Tosland.

A committee was appointed to investigate and to make recommendations.

POSITION IN OTAOO FEW BOYS ENTERING FARMING [by telegraph—OWN correspondent] DUNEDIN, Saturday The statement that few boys were entering on farming careers, and that many country boys were seeking town jobs, was made by Mr. T. Conlv, vocational officer, in his report to the Duuedin Vocational Guidance Association. r This was in striking contrast to the position in Auckland, Mr. Conly added, a fact which he attributed in part to the Otago farmers' regular and persistent announcement that farming was a "hopeless and bankrupt" calling. Few parents were anxious to send their sons to a career so evidently devoid of any prospects for the future, and it appeared that the next generation of farmers would have to come from the North Island.