DEARTH OF FARM LABOUR

Otago Daily Times, Issue 14279, 30 July 1908, Page 5

DEARTH OF FARM LABOUR

THE PROBLEM CONSIDERED.

IMMIGRATION WANTED,

(Per Usited Press Association.)

WELLINGTON, July 29. Mr Allan Bell Hamilton (Auckland), farmer, introduced tho subject of farm labour at to-day's meeting of the Farmers' Union Conference. He prefaced his remurks with an expression of regret for the men now unemployed in the cities but ho had to say that there was still need for competent farm labourers, and in his own distriof, it was quite impossible to secure all the labour that was needed. He moved oil behalf of tho Auckland Farmers* Union:.-"That .the Colonial Conference should urge upon the Government the necessity of importing an adequate supply of farm and domostio labour."

At the same time a somewhat similar motion was moved by Mr Middleton on behalf of the Southland Union:-"That the Government bo urged to take more aetivo steps for the. immigration of farm labourers from the United Kingdom." In a discussion that ensued Mr Middleton advocated that farmers should give a guarantee that they would spply work to farm labourers who came out to their order. Mr Hockley (Hunterville) supported the proposal in the interests of the mothers of Now Zealand.-fHear, hear.) He wanted to see the'iri relieved of the necessity of doing the drudgery from which at present there was no escapo so, far as he could see.

Mr W. B. Matheson (Eketahuna) said that what was required was a system under which any farmer requiring men could send the passage money to. the High Commissioner and have suitablo men selected for him. The real trouble was that.tie best men had not tho money to put up for their passages. Mr G. W. Loadley (Ashburton) said tho trouble was that the wrong men were being sent out here. Ho recently engaged a ploughman at £75 a year, and when tho man arrived ho confessed ho was not a farm hand, but a railway porter from Glasgow, who had never yoked up two horses in his' life. How was he to drive a fourhorse team? • ■ . , • , A Delegate: Did ho come through the Agent-general's office?

Mr Leadley: I don't know. Mr Richard (Levin) said there were others. There were men in the cities who wore quite capable of doing farm work, and who would not leave the cities.

Mr Jones (Wcedons) said that under the present system a fanner could secure from England its many men as ho wanted by sending £10 to the 'Agent-general. Mr Matheson answered that that was of little or no use unless a proper selection was undertaken.

Mr Evans (Ka.iapoi) said there was any amount of work to bo had in tho country distriots for men who were capable of doing it, Ho would bo the last in the world to advocate bringing men in here if there was no market for their labour, but he was certain there was plenty'of work for them, profitable for them and for tho country.

Mr Clothier (Harwarden) supported tho proposal to promote moro immigration of domostio servants, but ho 'expressed an opinion that the English farm labourer when in New Zealand was less .efficient-and less cnergctio than tho New Zealandors were.

Mr J Wilson (Rangitikei) said there was a dearth of efficient farm servants in Scotland, and he doubted whether efficient men could bo got to leave their employ in the Old Country. Moreover, there was no

harm in trying. . Mr 801 l contended that the proposal thatfarmers should indent their own labour was wrong. ■ The Government should bring them out As for the shortage spoken of by.'Mr.Wilson, that was duo to the emigration lo Canada. Mr Wilson: There wero 100,000 less went last year. Mr 801 l contended that there was still emigration going on, ajid some of it could, be diverted to New Zealand if proper stops were taken. As to Mr Clothier's experiences, thespeakor thought they were exceptional. Ho had known a groat many farm labourers from the Old Country who had proved themselves highly capable men. The latter view was commended by Mr. Evans (Kaiapoi). He knew' of several recent arrivals who were highly capable, and they showed adaptability. There were two young men from the North of Ireland, to quote instances, who had never driven mare than two horses in their lives, and they were quickly getting into the ways of colonial fanning. "They had never eaten jam in, their lives. They didn't know ns much as the colonial did, but they were good colonists, and they wero making good homes for themselves and helping us to develop the country." Both motions wero carried on the voices.