HARVEST LABOUR

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25672, 21 October 1944, Page 4

HARVEST LABOUR

POSITION FOR COMING SEASON Mr R. B. Meek (organising secretary) reported to the North Otago Production Council yesterday that the estimate of the number of men required for harvest labour in North Otago should be furnished to the army authorities by November 15. Mr W. Huse (supervising organiser) stated that the army had priority, but it would assist in every way possible in Droviding labour for harvesting. Mr A. J. Hore pointed out that last year farmers had to pay wages for one hour for 20 minutes’ work, and a recommendation was passed by the council that the men should be paid for the actual hours worked, and that .the hours be aggregated. . . , Mr W. Malcolm asked Mr Huse to take note of complaints made, stating that some farmers were so dissatisfied that they refused to pay the accounts. Many of the army lads tackled the Dob willingly, but the trouble was accentuated by the heavy crops last year. Mr Huse said there was a type of farmer who got the men’s backs up, and the National Council relied on the district councils to investigate complaints. In the case placed before him, it appeared that the men were not disciplined. Mr E. R. Winkel (man-power officer) stated that men were at present being mobilised by the army for overseas service. Surplus men from this source would be made available for harvesting purposes on a similar basis to that which obtained last year. These men would be available for the full period of the harvest, and not for a period of four weeks, as was the .case with territorial labour. The men would be fitter and older than the territorials supplied last year, and would also be available for threshing-mill work. , ■ The fact that grade 1 men were being mobilised should not disturb farmers, added Mr Winkel, as no men at present held on appeal would be mobilised until such time as they were released to the army after further hearing by the Armed F.orces Appeal Board. Similarly-grade 1 men not held on appeal would not be mobilised until the Production Council had had an opportunity of lodging an appeal. Harvesting labour conditions, said Mr Winkel. should be better than last year, and the position had already been eased by the direction of approximately 100 experienced men to farm work in recent months.