LABOUR CRISIS

New Zealand Herald, Volume 80, Issue 24746, 20 November 1943, Page 6

LABOUR CRISIS

VEGETABLE GROWING SUPPLIES FOR TROOPS MEN AND WOMEN NEEDED After many months' work, which showed signs of resulting in complete success, the Government vegeta J e growing projects in the Auckland district to supply the armed forces are threatened with partial failure unless sufficient labour is made available, the stage has been reached at the Mangere, Patumahoe and Papatoetoc gardens where the continued lack of workers will mean the complete loss of large areas of crops which are intended solely for the troops in the combat aieas. Since the farming land was taken over last May the areas have undergone a complete transformation and to-day comprise hundreds ot acres of orderly rows of vegetables. Permanent stalls, which were sufficient to cope with the work during the winter, have cultivated, planted and weeded until the huge gardens could take advantage ot the spring weather. In recent weeks, however, growth has been rapid and additional staff is needed immediately.

Position Now Desperate At Patumahoe the position is desperate. The garden covers 900 acres, most of which is already under cultivation, and many of the crops cannot be attended to sufficiently to ensure a satisfactory yield. Acres of carrots, dwarf beans," onions, lettuces and red beet are becoming choked by weeds which cannot be kept in check. Mr. H. A. Pirrit, an officer of the Department of Agriculture, who is responsible for procuring labour for the projects, said yesterday that if the required workers could not be made available almost immediately large areas of the vegetables would have to be ploughed into the soil. They would be a dead loss to the country and the result would be tantamount to the sinking of supplies on their way to the troops. Problem of Harvesting "We have the land, the fertiliser, the equipment and the crops to do the job and all we need is the men and women," said Mr. Pirrit. "This produce must be harvested as soon as it is ready, or it will be useless for the purpose for which it was planted. Even while harvesting is being done the ordinary routine of planting, weeding and cultivating will keep the permanent staff fully occupied. "The machines we have for inter-row cultivation are keeping the ground between the rows in order, but the weeding in the rows themselves cannot be done by machinery," said the speaker. "I understand that a number of people from Pukekohe have been directed by the manpower authorities to the Patumahoe garden, but we have not seen them yet. They will be permanent workers, and in addition in the next few weeks we will need a large number of men and women for harvesting." Appeal to Married Women Mr. Pirrit said an appeal was being made for married women with children of school age to work on a part-time basis in the gardens. Even if they could put in only about four hours a day twice a week it might mean the difference between success and failure. If people were willing to give up part of their annual holidays they could also be of great assistance to the scheme. The manpower officer, Mr. C. G. S. Ellis, stated yesterday that the work was of first priority and every effort must be made to provide adequate staff. The National Service Department recently undertook a survey of businesses in Pukekohe to see where staff could most easily be released, and as a result a number of women were directed to Patumahoe. These were the first directions to affect Pukekohe business men, but in the majority of cases the employers had lodged appeals for the retention of members of their staffs.

CALLING UP GIRLS CONCERN IN GISBORNE (0.c.) GISBORNE, Friday The Poverty Bay Drapers and Retailers' Association has decided to make further representations through the Dominion federation to the Minister of Industrial Manpower, the Hon. A. McLagan, concerning the calling-up of girls for industrial employment in other centres, and conditions for girls already directed to jobs. Mr. D. W. Coleman, M.P., attended the meeting of the association and promised to endeavour to arrange for the Minister to receive a deputation of retailers to be organised by the Dominion federation next week. The association passed a resolution that, before a further call-up of girls was made, owing to already depleted an assurance be given that the question of transferring surplus women from the armed forces be surveyed immediately. Further, that in view of the rationing of butter, tea, sugar, clothing. hoofs and other essential commodities to the armed forces and civilians alike, a system of tobacco rationing; be instituted at once. The association considered that subsidising of wages to a luxury industry, such as tobadco, was not justified.

CHILD WELFARE BRANCH REQUEST FROM PUKEKOHE (°;C-) PUKEKOHE, Friday Ihe Pukekohe Borough Council at its meeting this week decided, in the interests oi child welfare, to urge the Government to establish and maintain a permanent branch of the Child Welfare Department in Pukekohe, comprising an office and a resident child welfare officer. It was also resolved that in the interests of those affected the matter be accorded urgency. Phis was the direct outcome of a conference at Pukekohe recently, when the question of Maori welfare was discussed by the Mayor of Pukekohe, Mr. M. I?. Grier.son, and representatives of the Health and Child Welfare Departments and elders of the Maori race. BETTER BUS SERVICE HAMILTON TO TE AROHA (O-C.) HAMILTON, Friday An improved bus service between Te Aroha and Hamilton has been authorised by the No. 1 Transport Licensing Authority, Mr. K. J. Phelan. It was stated at a meeting with the authority that the position with respect to petrol', tvros and manpower had eased, and that it would now be possible to run a daily two-way service between the two towns. The application for this service was granted. FORTUNE-TELLER FINED "This woman obliged anyone who came along wanting a glimpse of the future." said Senior-Detective Walsh, when Amelia Alice Stevens, aged 66 (Mr. King), pleaded guilty before Mr. F. H. Levien, S.M., yesterday, to a charge of undertaking to tell fortunes. Two policewomen who visited defendant each paid 3s Gd to have their fortunes told, said Mr. Walsh. There was no suggestion that she was carrying on an extensive business. Counsel said defendant committed the breach in ignorance of the law. A fine of £3 was imposed. TAXI SERVICES Further discussions between the Minister of Transport, the Hon. J. O'Brien, and representatives of the Auckland Taxicnb Control Committee and the Auckland Taxi Owners' Association took place in the city yesterday. The .Minister would make no statement last night on the outcome of the talks, but he said that there had been a considerable improvement in the taxi situation j in Auckland. The men were doing their j ■ best to cope with the position. j