WORK ON FARMS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23818, 20 November 1940, Page 6

WORK ON FARMS

SHORTAGE OF LABOUR EFFECT ON PRODUCTION THE EMPLOYMENT OF YOUTHS [from our own correspondent] HAMILTON. Tuesday A resolution stating that the inevitable result of the continued depletion of farm labour would be the diminution of primary production, and requesting steps to ensure a sufficiency of farm labour, was carried at a meeting of the Waikato Primary Production Council. Members agreed that there must bo enough labour to handle produce on the wharf, but emphasised that first of all commodities had to be produced. More consideration should he given, it was felt, to the farm labour question, in view of the statement that A grade waterfront workers were not being called up for territorial service. The question of permission to employ youths under the age of 15 on dairy farms was the subject of further discussion when a reply was received from the Director of Primary' Production, Mr. 11. B. Tenncnt, to a request from the council to waive the regulations in view of the acute labour shortage. The director stated that an amendment to the existing regulations would be necessary to allow the employment of youths under 15. In view of the fact that such an amendment had already been definitely rejected by'the Industrial Emergency Council, it was considered unlikely that any change in the present regulations would be made unless it could bo shown that the circumstances of the position had so changed as to justify the council reversing its previous decision. It was resolved to make further representations, and Mr. R. A. Candy was deputed to interview the director in Wellington. LOANS IN WAIKATO REPORT TO THE COUNCIL * f FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT J HAMILTON. Tuesday Eleven loans totalling £1386 have been granted by the finance committee of the Waikato Council of Primary Production under the Farmers' Loan Emergency Regulations, 1910, according to a report present at a meeting of the council. Eleven loans involving £2960 were declined, seven totalling £2866 were approved but finance was arranged through other channels, while seven totalling £1629 were arranged through the State Advances Corporation. Action had also been taken by the executive, stated the report, to see what could be done to exempt repayments under these regulations from the excess profits tax. The matter will be considered by the National Council at its next meeting.