FARM LABOUR

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25561, 14 June 1944, Page 4

FARM LABOUR

INCREASE IN SUPPLY NOW MORE THAN AMPLE (Special) AUCKLAND, June 13. “ We can no longer say that the lack of man-power is a hindrance to us,” said Mr R. C. Clark, chairman of the Auckland District Council of Primary Production, at a meeting of the council, when referring to changes in the supply of labour so far as farmers were concerned. Farmers had been met more than adequately in their demand for labour, he added. Referring to the applications for labour which farmers had been asked to file, Mr Clark said that from the whole Dominion only a few over a thousand applications were received. Of these, only two-thirds were strongly recommended by the committees and the remainder not so strongly. The supply now was more than ample. It was likely that as the season advanced farmers would take greater advantage of the lbaour available, and he was not prepared to say that the small number of applications was indicative of the full demand.

In view of the altered position, stated Mr Clark, it should be brought emphatically to the notice of farmers that they should take the utmost advantage of the labour supply made available. Sub-committees should also understand that 'the situation also called for them to take a more critical attitude toward many appeals from eligble unmarried men in the 21 to 25 age group whose services, in the past, it had been essential to retain.