HARVEST LABOUR

New Zealand Herald, Volume 82, Issue 25286, 21 August 1945, Page 4

HARVEST LABOUR

ARMY AID UNLIKELY ORGANISING WORKERS (S.R.) WELLINGTON, Monday Farmers who have looked to the Army for assistance during the harvesting period in past seasons cannot expect help from this quarter this year, because the pending demobilisation of the forces. The Controller of Manpower, Mr H. L. Bockett, stated tonight that with the early return of many men from the forces to civilian life there would not be the same need for additional labour at harvest time and with the organisation of some voluntary assistance by the various primary production councils there should be sufficient labour this year. As a result of discussions between the National Council of Primary Production and the National Service Department a circular has been sent to primary production councils suggesting various ways 'in which the necessary labour could be organised. It added that a general statement on the labour position was being prepared in collaboration with the National Service Department. "It is unlikely that assistance by the return of men from overseas will, be available to any great extent until about the new year as difficulty is being experienced in obtaining the necessary shipping to bring back themen,'' states the circular. "The harvest will commence in the north in late October and early November, so that' a serious dearth of labour will be experienced in the early months' of the harvest." A sub-committee of the National Council of Primary Production was set up to consider the question of seasonal labour and make recommendations, including the possibility of recruiting people in towns adjacent to farming areas. An approach is being made to the Education Department to explore the possibility of the services of senior boys who are not sitting examinations being made available prior to the school vacation, say from mid-November onward. Other suggestions were that city employees, both male and female, might consider using their holidays to advantage by working in the country while county councils might be prepared to allow some of their employees time off to work on farms where there wag urgent seasonal work to be done.