REGISTER TO BE COMPILED

Southland Times, Issue 24599, 22 November 1941, Page 10

REGISTER TO BE COMPILED

PROVIDING LABOUR FOR FARMERS SEASONAL DIFFICULTIES DISCUSSED A register is to be compiled of the names of all those in the city, towns and schools willing to assist the farmers of Southland during seasonal farm work. This was the outcome of a meeting convened yesterday by the Southland Provincial Executive of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union in an endeavour to meet the serious labour difficulties expected during the first three months of next year. Those willing to assist are asked to get in touch with the placement officer (Mr S. C. Bingham) at the earliest possible date. Mr E. A. Cameron was chairman.

The conference was attended by representatives of the following bodies:— Southland Provincial Executive of the Farmers’ Union, Southland Primary Production Council, Agricultural and Pastoral Association, Chamber of Commerce, Boys’ and Girls’ High Schools Board, Technical College Board, Employers’ Association, Stock and Station Agents’ Association, Grain and Seed Merchants’ Association, Returned Services Association, Education Board, Women’s War Service Auxiliary, and representatives of the trades unions. The State Placement Service and the Social Security Department were also represented. The object of the meeting was briefly explained by Mr A. L. Adamson, who said that at the last meeting of the Southland Provincial Executive of the Farmers’ Union it was considered unwise to make a request for the exemption from territorial service of all essential farm workers. 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. It was hoped that some practical suggestions would emanate from the meeting. SERIOUS POSITION “The meeting has been convened with the idea of getting an expression of opinion from various sections of the community on what assistance can be given to provide farm labour,” stated the chairman. “The labour position was serious before the war, but it is more serious now. The same position exists in many other industries, but business men here today will realize that the farming industry is of paramount importance in New Zealand. The country depends on its primary industries for 95 per cent, of its exports.” Accommodation and the availability of men both entered into the question, con'.inued Mr Cameron. The farmers realized that all men capable of carrying arms should be trained and that all should do their share. Referring to the suggestion that a register should be compiled of all men in the city available to give assistance on farms, Mr Cameron said that there was no compulsion about it. There was no desire to compel men to go'to the country. The primary object of setting up a register of men with farm experience was to find out where the men were. It was impossible for the placement officer to deal with the position unless he knew where men could be found.

A suggestion that the regulations governing the payment of pensions and Social Security allowances should be relaxed was made by Mr J. N. Armour, representing the Invercargill Chamber of Commerce. This would allow returned soldiers and men receiving Social Security, who were available to assist, to work on farms without being penalized by a reduction in their pensions or allowances. REAL DANGER They were not advocating for the release of men from military camps, stated Mr A. R. Johnston, a representative of the Farmers’ Union. The danger to the country was real and it might not be so far away, Another point was that the preparation of a register seemed to flavour a little of compulsion. What they wanted, of course, was the interest and co-opera-tion of the organizations represented at the meeting. The release of secondary school boys and girls fol’ assistance on farms was referred to by Mr E. K. Sim. He said he realized that if the authorities were willing to release the pupils the great difficulty was to fix a time for their release. “It is a sad state of affairs when women have to turn to and do the work of men,” stated Mr W. J. A. McGregor in referring to the movement for placing girls on the land. “It has to be remembered that many wives are unable to obtain house help. It ’is a disgrace that men should be standing by and letting girls take their part.” Mr Cameron: I don’t think there are many men standing by. VOLUNTARY LIST Mr McGregor suggested that a voluntary list should be opened for men and youths willing and suitable to go on farms.

“I quite agree with Mr McGregor’s remarks, but if the men are not available then I am afraid we will have to fall back on the women,” remarked another representative. Mr G. R. Herron outlined briefly the work that could be done by girls on farms and said that the public should not get the impression that they were not wanted. There was quite a lot of work they could do very capably. Mr Bingham explained that a list of school boys had already been compiled and applications might be made by farmers to the Placement Office. The number of boys coming forward was not as great as last year, and this was probably due to the fact that their services were not fully availed of by farmers. He was prepared, however, to keep a list of townspeople willing to go out to farms.

A suggestion was made by Mr W. Carswell that help should be obtained from the teachers themselves. Many of them had been brought up on farms and were willing to assist. Perhaps the Teachers’ Institute could be asked to get the co-operation of the teachers. “Whatever help employers can give will be given,” stated Mr L. S. Alsweiler. “However, it will be appreciated that with the territorial camps the employers may find it difficult to release men.” Referring to the employment of secondary school boys, Mr Alsweiler pointed out that these boys would be returning to school at the beginning of February and it was just a question if the more urgent work would be in February and March. Mr Alsweiler moved the following resolution:—“That a register be compiled of the names of all those in the city, towns and schools who are willing to assist the farmers of Southland during seasonal farm work, and that those willing to assist contact the placement officer at the earliest possible date.”

Speaking on behalf of the Women’s War Service Auxiliary, Mrs R. C. Abernethy said that a few girls had been enrolled, but they were really awaiting instructions from Wellington about wages and other matters. Mr Alsweiler’s motion was carried. A committee representative of all the organizations at the meeting was set up to deal with questions affecting the transfer of labour to farms.