SHORTAGE OF LABOUR

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23330, 23 October 1937, Page 18

SHORTAGE OF LABOUR

SOUTHLAND FARMERS COMPLAIN DOMESTIC ASPECT OF PROBLEM (Peb United Press Association) INVERCARGILL, Oct. 22. The difficulty of securing competent labour for farms was again discussed by the Southland Provincial Executive of the Farmers' Union to r day. It was stated that it was quite impossible to secure suitable men through the Placement offices in Invercargill and Gore at the present time. Another aspect stressed by one member was that the shortage of domestic labour made it difficult to provide the conditions now required for farm labour. Mr G. A. Hamilton said that the shortage of farm labour was not the only aspect which merited consideration There was also a shortage of the means of catering for farm labour. In most cases farmers provided meals for their men, but, if they could not get domestic help, they would soon be unable to employ labour at all without imposing too heavy a burden on their wives and families. He would hke to know why the placement office would not attempt to supply domestic e Mr A. H. McLean: There is none to be had. ~.„,. . . Mr R. Sim: Are we not drifting into a position that farm work is no longer a congenial occupation? It was decided to obtain particulars of the number of applications for farm labour at the Invercargill and Gore placement offices, together with the number of experienced men available, the information to be supplied to the Government.