SEASONAL FARM LABOUR

Southland Times, Issue 24598, 21 November 1941, Page 8

SEASONAL FARM LABOUR

Meeting To Discuss Difficulties In an endeavour to meet the serious difficulties expected in finding labour for essential farm work, particularly in January, February and March of next year, a meeting representative of many organizations will be held in Invercargill this morning. The meeting has been convened by the Southland Fr°" vincial Executive of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union and the following organizations have been invited to be represented: The Southland Agricultural and Pastoral Association, Stock and Station Agents, Invercargill Chamber of Commerce, Southland Primary Production Council, Boys’ and Girls High Schools Board, Southland Technical College Board, Southland Employers’ Federation, Invercargill Returned Services’ Association, the rector of the Southland Boys’ High School (Dr G. H. Uttley), and the principal of the Southland Technical College (Mr C. A. Stewart). The difficulties that are expected to arise during the first three months of next year find their source in the fact that many farmers’ sons and employees will be serving in territorial camps and military camps for overseas service. It was suggested by the Southland Executive of the Farmers’ Union that a request be made to the authorities for general exemption from territorial service for all essential farm workers, particularly in January and February. However, because of the great importance of military training it was decided that the better method was to allow the men to go into camp and endeavour to organize other labour’ to help with seasonal work. An invitation to be represented at the meeting came before the Invercargill Chamber of Commerce at its meeting yesterday and it was decided to appoint the president, Mr J. N. Armour. “SHOULD NOT BE PENALIZED” That returned soldiers and men receiving Social Security and willing and able to assist with essential farm work should not be penalized by a reduction in their pensions or Social Security payments was an opinion expressed by Mr Armour. There was quite a number of returned soldiers receiving pensions and men on Social Security willing to do essential work on farms, he said. However, they were under a disadvantage in that if they were to earn, say, £3 a week on farms their pensions and Social Security payments would be reduced accordingly. He knew of a number of men keen to step in and fill the breach, and quite fit for reasonably hard work. “Men volunteering to do essential work on farms should not suffer by having their payments or pensions reduced,” added Mr Armour. “I believe that where men are reasonably fit and can make arrangements to work on farms, they should not suffer.” During the short discussion that followed it was pointed out that it was the economic and not the basic pensions that would be reduced.