FARM LABOUR SHORTAGE

Southland Times, Issue 24862, 30 September 1942, Page 4

FARM LABOUR SHORTAGE

DESPERATE POSITION IN WAIKATO (P.A.) HAMILTON, September 28. If experienced farmers and farm labourers are not released from the Army a further fall in primary production was inevitable, said Mr R. A. Candy, chairman of the Waikato Council of Primary Production, today when commenting on the scarcity of farm labour. Many farmers’ wiyes with young children had been endeavouring to fill the gap caused by men leaving farms to enter camps. Women had suffered in health because of the strain. “The Production Council wants a better balance between the requirements of the armed forces and primary production,” Mr Candy said. The Minister of Primary Production had stated that men would be released from the armed forces where it was shown that farms were understaffed to such an extent as to make maximum production impossible, as foodstuffs .were just as important to the war effort as men. The labour position on Waikato farms was now in a desperate state. There were numerous cases of farmers handling 100 and even more cows on their own. Similarly, many sheep farmers were endeavouring to look .after 2000 ewes without assistance. Many applications for the release of men had been favourably considered by armed forces appeal boards, but the Army authorities had released only a very small proportion of the men appealed for. Mr Candy pointed out that the Production Council did not ask for men in the age groups from 21 to 41 and had asked for a list of men in the Army competent and willing to undertake farm work. That list was not forthcoming from the Army authorities.