FARMERS’ UNION.

Pahiatua Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 13088, 23 October 1935, Page 5

FARMERS’ UNION.

DANCE SHOWS HANDSOME PROFIT.

GIFT TO WOMEN’S DIVISION. Mr E. S. lieckloi presided over a meeting ot the executive committee oi the Pahiatua branch of the Furmeis* Union held yesterday afternoon in the office of the'secretary (Mr J. A. Walsh). There were also present Messrs W. Fulton. J. >l. Be nu n-, G. F. Hoggard, G. H . Hodd, J .G----e;ie, H. Cotter, J. id. Gibson, M. EgJ Campbell, R. C. Yates a:.d C. Jennings. A motion of condolence was passed to Messrs J. H. Brcmncr ind J. H. Gibson on the loss of a relative in Canada. I’he recent Farmers’ Union dance held in the Foresters’ Hall in aid 'of the Women’s Division, showed a nett profit of £27 8s lid. The president said a cheque for that amount had been sent to the Division. Mr Heckler said this showed a handsome profit. A letter was read from the Women’s Division secretary, thanking the Farmers’ Union for the splendid donation. It was considered that if the Drill Hall was provided by the Department with seating and other conveniences next year and a permanent form of decoration for the ceiling the Union would engage it for its nex: annual function as the Foresters' Hall was undoubtedly not large enugh to accommodate, the huge crowd. Mr J. A. Walsh mentioned that he had made the necessary representations to the member for the discin' et, Sir Alfred Ransom, with respect to the Drill Hall. SHORTAGE OF FARM LABOUR. The secretary said that so many farmers in this district had told him they desired farm labour that he undertook to write to the member for the district. Sir Alfred Ransom, and acquaint, him of the acute shortage of farm labour. Sir Alfred replied asking for particulars as to the number of men wanted and the amount of wage offering. There proved to be nine or ten jobs offering at wages ranging from 15s to 25s per week for single men. No further word however, had been received from tlm authorities. Mr J. 11. Bremner said it-was a big question—farm employment—and there were many sides to it. The position was very acute and would have to be dealt with in some shape or form in the near future if the prosperity of tin- country was going to bo maintained. With greater keenness in the industry of late owing to the more encouraging obtained more intensive production was resulting and consequently a bigger demand for labour The argument was advanced that the single unemployment camps were detrimental to farm labour but he did not support this view because the majority of men in unemployment camps were not the kind to go oil farms or at least be a success there. Most ef them could not he dragged on to a farm by a team oi bullocks and . ; f they were the farmer would soon be looking for another team to drag them off. A scheme must be* devised to make farm labour more popular.' He instanced the* Penrose Farm at Masterton where for two years, instruction was given to boys to fit them for farms but the- trouble ap pa rent! v arose when the boys went out onto tin farms. Their treatment there was not too satisfactory and so they did not speak well ol their newfound employment. For a number of years now the farmer had been working under a system of inflated land values. He was paying too much interest and too much rent to give his employees the money or treatment required. Some farmers failed to realise that young boys and lacks were human beings and so often did not provide them with the accmniodation. food, or leisure that they should have. As a consequence the boys did not speak too well of farm ■employment and it therefore became difficult to get anyone to go on. a farm. He noticed by Hansard, however, that in the House the other day the Minister of Unemployment referred to a scheme proposed to popularise farm labour. He mentioned that for the* previous year only 14(5 boys were placed in country jobs where 1.176 were placed in tlie? cities. The plan was to get a scheme similar to Flock House and any boy sent from there onto the land would be put under the Unemployment Board’s control. His earnings would be subsidised and at the end of five years he would draw a. >un? of £234 This gave a boy some guarantee for the J uture.

Some argument ensued as to the value of a Flock House training and t was generally conceded that it was a splendid scheme. Mr .Bremner complimented fhe secretary Mi Walsh) on his prompt action in bringing, the matter before th<* Minister of Lands. Mr G. I 4 '. Hoggard agreed that they had to make conditions better for the employees but at the same time they had to give, the man employing the labour a sufficient return to allow him to offer a. decent wage* and home. Mr G. H. Hodd said no one could wonder at boys preferring the town to farm jobs. One bad only to compare* tin* hours worked. Mr Heckler pointed out that a hoy

in town only learnt one job whereas a boy on a farm had a chance of learning from 10 to 20 jobs. YOUNG FARMERS’ CLUBS. Mr Bremner thought it would he a good thing if farmers encouraged their boyk to join up with the Young Farmers’ Clubs. It would pay them handsomely in the long run. even if their men lost a bit of time at the moment. r Mr Campbell: “I agree, they would gain in th© long run.” Mr Bremner made an appeal to farmers to encourage their own boys and their employees to support the Young Farmers’ Clubs which were getting a firm hold now throughout the Dominion. Their chief object was to raise the standard and reputation of farming and instil into the young mind that, there was something more to farming than just the routine of milking cows and mustering sheep. Brains and the intelligent use of them were essential to> success i n Ihe in dus try. GENERAL. Mr J. H. Bremner said that the pigs were not getting the treatment after they left the farm that they should. The Pig Producers’ Assn, in Palmerston North had clone quite a lot to improve the industry in general. When they found the schedule of prices for this year so unsatisfactory the Association had resolved to interview the Meat Board and protest. He moved that the Farmers’ Union here write' to the Pig Producers’ Assn. a.ud assure it if the support of this Union in removing any anomalies from, the schedule as represented by the difference in schedule rate of 2d per lb. between exportable and neon-exportable pigs. . Complaint was made by Mr J. Campbell concerning the rough stato of some of the yards a,t the recent Pahiatua Cattle Fair. It wa. s decided to write to the Pahiatua. Farmers’ Yards Association and draw attention to the matter Mr H. Cotter mentioned the high cost of combs and cutters with relation to shearing operations. Combs which used to be 3s 9d were up to 6s and cutters, formerly 9cl were noAv up to Is 9cfi ari abnormal increase. Representations are to be made to tbe Wairarapa Provincial Executive of the Farmers’ Ur ion to take the matter up, to the member for the district and the Minister of Industries and Commerce Mr A. Booth, or Kaitawa, who won the* recent ensilage competition was congratulated upon heading the list. In his report Mr Freeman, Fields Instructor, said that with 96 points Mr Booth had obtained the highest marks ever given by him in a competition of that nature. Mr Booth very kindly donated the prize money hack to the; Farmers’ Union.