FARM LABOUR PROBLEM

Southland Times, Issue 24537, 11 September 1941, Page 4

FARM LABOUR PROBLEM

Position Acute In Southland From the number of advertisements that have appeared in the “Situations Vacant” column of recent issues of The Southland Times it is clear that there is at present a keen demand for nearly all classes of farm workers. But experienced workers are scarce. In fact the Government placement officer at Invercargill, Mr S. C. Bingham, stated yesterday that the position was acute. With the busy period on the farms beginning there was practically no experienced labour available. Beside, the war had made such a drain on single men that practically the only men offering were married, and this raised the problem of accommodation. The accommodation for married couples on farms in Southland was limited. If more such accommodation were available it was possible that more married men would be prepared to accept farm work. The demand was for general farm hands.

Dealing with the question of labour for cheese factories, Mr Bingham said that enough men had registered for this work to supply the industry in Southland with labour for the 1941-42 season. However, the majority of the men who had offered their services were married and here again limited accommodation was a difficulty.