FARM LABOUR

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23482, 20 October 1939, Page 8

FARM LABOUR

ACUTE SHORTAGE PRODUCERS PROTEST CRITICISM OF GOVERNMENT WAGES ON. PUBLIC WORKS [BY TKLEGRAPn OWN CORRF.srONDBNT] PALMERSTON NORTH, Thursday The acute shortage of farm labour in face of the call ft"" greater production to meet war-time demands, the granting of higher wages for men engaged on public works tending to make the position worse, and the fact that the guaranteed price for dairy produce for the 19:39-40 season made no allowance for the inevitable increase in the costs of goods and labour required by the farming community formed the basis for discussion at a meeting of the Manawatu and West Coast Dairy Companies' Association executive.

"The position is getting desperate. You simply cannot get men," remarked Mr. C. Gr. C. Dermer when questions were raised. The Forty-Hour Week The Chairman, Mr. J. Boyce: I think the farmers are only too pleased to increase production, but it is practically impossible to do it. I expected that when the war started the 40-hour week would go, but instead they have increased wages on public works. I do not blame the men preferring public works to farms. If I was a young man 1 would go where the money is. Still, we have to produce. It is just as essential to produce as to send men away. We are in competition with the Public Works Department and they have the public purse behind them. If we experience a hold-up in shipping owing to the war we will have to face up to extra charges. It is almost impossible to get men to work on a dairy farm. Replacement Suggested

Mr. S. E. Algar suggested that the Government should be called upon to replace men going into camps from farms. Mr. G. H. Stiles: On enlisting the men must state their occupation. Mr. Boyce: They can easily put themselves down as labourers. Protests are to be forwarded to Ministers of the Crown against the rise in wages for public works employees, the taking of farm labourers for military service, and the absence of any increase in the guaranteed price to meet this year's extra costs. One member stated that he would not have been in favour of the last step had there been no wage increase for the men on public works.

MAN POWER CONTROL JOINT COMMITTEE FORMED [from our own . correspondent] MORHINSVILLE. Thursday A statement was made by Mr. W. Marshall, deputy-chairman of the Xew Zealand Co-operative Dairy Company, Limited, at a mass meeting of farmers at Morrinsville to-day, that a man power committee consisting of senior civil servants and representatives of the employers and employees had been appointed by the Government to regulate enlistments for the military forces from essential industries. Mr. Marshall said if those present knew of any men liable to be taken away from the land they could appeal to the committee for exemption for them.