DRIFT FROM RURAL TO URBAN AREAS

Putaruru Press, Volume XXVII, Issue 1362, 19 January 1950, Page 4

DRIFT FROM RURAL TO URBAN AREAS

HALF-YEARLY SURVEY In 1936 the total number engaged in work on farms, both owners and all employees, was 150,000. In 1945 it had fallen to 118,500.. These figures are disclosed by the half-yearly survey of employment in New Zealand. The survey shows the numbers in the different age groups as follows: 1936 1945 Under 25 .. .. 42,724 21,491 25-55 .. 75,068 63,674 Over 1 55 26,568 23,597 “Despite widespread mechanisation,” says the report, “farming, in common with other industries, has experienced a shortage of labour since the war, and this is often attributed .to a continuing drift of population from - rural to urban areas. An analysis of the age distribution of the farm labour force gives confirmation of this, and suggests that the - problem centres upon the movement out of farming of persons in the 20-30-year age group. Even allowing that a percentage of farm workers were, still overseas in the forces in 1945, a sharp deterioration in the position is still evident.”