THE LABOUR SUPPLY

Southland Times, Issue 17242, 13 January 1913, Page 2

THE LABOUR SUPPLY

DISCU,Wr BY THE FARMERS* UNION. At a meeting of the Executive of the New Zealand Farmers' Union for the provincial district of Southland on Friday last, the following letter from the Dominion secretary was read:— The New Zealand Government has at present under consideration the question of immigration In regard to farm labourers and domestics, and the Minister (tha Hon. H. D. Bell) has asked to be supplied with some definite particulars of the requirements of the Dominion, both in respect to the class of labour and the numbers, and I have been Instructed by the Dominion President (Mr J. G. Wilson) to write and ask you to be good enough to take early steps to draw up a list of farmers in your locality, who require labour now, or within the course of the next two or three months. You might consult with your Chairman as to the best and quickest way of getting this information, so that you may be able to advise me by the 2#th Inst., or as soon after as possible. We have pointed out to the Minister the difficulty of collecting this Information hurriedly, but we are anxious to impress upon the Government the need for a systematic policy, and we are dependent upon the branches for the necessary proof of the great demand for labour that we believe to exist all over the Dominion. Will you therefore kindly furnish me with the list required, and when sending it on, I would be glad if you will state what you believe to be a fair estimate of the requirements in your locality. Trusting to have your prompt attention to this matter, and awaiting your reply. After considerable dissension, the following motion was carried; —"That the attention of the Hon. the Prime Minister be directed to the present lack of labour in the country districts, which tends to prevent farmers from having their actual necessary work carried out, and also the proper cultivation of the land, which causes a consequent loss in production, and therefore a severe loss to the Dominion; and that the Government be requested to relieve the present unsatisfactory position by giving encouragement to the best class of farm labourers in the Old Country to emigrate; and that in the opinion of this Executive there are openings in Southland alone for from 500 to 1000 men of the proper class.”

The introduction of immigrants through the Central (Unemployed) Body of London was also discussed, and the secretary (Mr J. T. Prain) was in* structed to advise brandies that he was prepared to receive applications from farmers, and that a list supplied by tha London Body could be inspected at any time at Allen's Hall, and selections made therefrom.