DOMESTIC HELP

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26530, 4 August 1947, Page 9

DOMESTIC HELP

NEEDS OF COUNTRY DISTRICTS FEDERATED FARMERS’ REMIT Industrial Correspondent • WELLINGTON, Aug. 1. An Otago proposal that there should be a comprehensive scheme of immigration, with particular reference to the domestic labour problem on farms, was unanimously adopted at the annual Dominion conference of Federated Farmers here this morning. The Otago provincial district proposed—“ That in view of the deplorable shortage of labour, particularly domestic labour for help on farms, production must be affected, with a consequent drop in the standards of living for all. We ask that a comprehensive scheme of immigration be inauguMr James Andrew (Wairarapa), supporting the Otago proposal, said that help was essential, particularly in the back country. Farmers’ wives, particularly in the backblocks, worked far too hard.—(Cries of “Hear! Hear!”) Mr Andrew said that, when an inquiry was addressed from Wairarapa to 17 institutions in Wellington about the possibility of finding girls to work in the country, the reply from every one of them was that practically all the girls in training went into city jobs. Only those who were mentally deficient showed any inclination to go into the country. “That surely is a tragic * state of affairs,” said Mr Andrew. _ Other delegates paid tribute to the bush housekeeper scheme operated by the Women’s Division. The Otago resolution was then adopted. ____________