FINDING EMPLOYMENT

Te Awamutu Courier, Volume 55, Issue 3930, 23 July 1937, Page 5

FINDING EMPLOYMENT

PLACEMENT OFFICER EXPLAINS. ADDRESS TO FARMERS’ UNION. The problems of finding employment for farm workers were discussed by Mr J. D. Hislop, district placement officer, in an interesting address to the Te Awamutu branch of the N.Z. Farmers’ Union on Thursday. Mr Hislop was accorded a hearty w-elcome, the president (Mr A. T. Bryant) expressing the opinion that the placement scheme was beneficial to the farming industry. Men suitable for farm work were encouraged to remain in or return to the industry, instead of seeking employment in the towns and cities. Mr Hislop said the placement scheme was a Government department set up to bring the employer and prospective employee together, with out cost to either. The scheme was being developed, and all trades and professions (except medical) were serviced. It was a mistaken fallacy that only what are termed “unem ployable’’ men were handled. The farmers’ interests in the matter of secur ing workers had got into a deplorable state, hence the Government’s decision to step in and rationalise or systematise it. METHODS CHANGED. The speaker went on to quote numbers of inquiries dealt with, and numbers found employment. The recognition by the farmers of the value of the placement scheme was a growing one, and the Auckland and Hamilton offices were now placing from 50 to 72 men per week. The ability of each man placed was not guaranteed, but he had been assured that many of them had proved quite satisfactory, as some Te Awamutu district farmers had averred. This season the system was being revised, with placement officers at Whangarei, Auckland, Hamilton and Tauranga. Thus a shortage of labour in each grouped district could be supplied ’ from another district where there happened to be an over-supply. Each town has a certifying officer, who reports daily as to demands and men available. Men placed sometimes have not the fare to take them to tlie employer’s farm, and he is given assistance, the cost being deducted by / the employer from the first wages earned, and forwarded to the placement office. EMPLOYING YOUTHS. Mr Hislop said one difficulty in the scheme was to provide youths for farms, but the policy was to send youths to farmers who could not afford to pay man’s wages, but could pay youth wages. There were difficulties, but these were being grappled with. He predicted a shortage ol youth labour throughout the coming busy season, but he was confident the shortage would be overtaken in the succeeding season. As to the general run of farm workers, Mr Hislop said reasonable inquiry was made as to a man’s past service, experience and character, and a recommendation was based on this information; where a man was un known, and the employer wanted a man in a hurry, a snap judgment had [ to be made; and the prospective employer was warned. If that man proved unsuitable, he (Mr Hislop) asked that the placement service be not condemned, but given another opportunity to supply the right type of man. The full co-operation of the farmers was an essential to success of the scheme. Farmers asked to report in a man were asked to be honest and conscientious. Farm employees were entitled to be decently treated. He doubted if the conditions of the hired man had been improved as much as the conditions of the employing farmer in the past two or three decades. He knew full well that there were good employers; but unfortunately there were bad employers. The drift to public works that occurred last year was vanishing, and be had noticed a trend from public works back to the farm—by exper ienced farm workers, who had realised that even though the wages were not as good and hours of work longer I they could not save as much money \en public works as they eould on the farms. QUESTIONS ANSWERED. Mr Hislop concluded, amid applause, and then he answered a number of questions. He said the Act did not make provision for the unexperienced worker. A physically unfit man could get an under-rate worker’s permit, but not a fit man who was inexperienced. He believed legislation would be provid ed to enable the employment of inexperienced men at a wage below the present minimum. Mr Hislop told of a youth farmers’ settlement plan (not yet finalised) by which a young fellow would work as a farm hand for several years to qualify himself for selection as a farmer competent to farm on his own account. When selected the Government would advance him loan money to acquire a farm and herd for himself. That plan, he predicted, would soon be very popular. Youths could be attracted to farm work, but few could be driven to that class of occupation. Hence his appeal to farmer employers to offer them as much encouragement as possible. To a questioner, Mr Hislop told of the plan for supplying harvesters, and mentioned the primary difficulty of transport. If the farmers themselves could arrange transport from the nearest town he thought the scheme » could bo made workable. If a truck were arranged for by the Department there would still be the difficulty that a farmer would not be able to employ the full truck load of men. It may happen that farmers in different parts of the district would each want two or three men on the same day. He had thought of establishing a small camp in a district far removed from a centre, and thus avoiding the transport difficulties, but there were obvious difficulties there —especially the vagaries of the weather. .Perhaps provision could be made for the harvesters

to be engaged on other farm duties . , (such as ragwort clearing) on a subsidised basis, for the farmers would rot be prepared to pay full harvesting wages on ragwort clearing or fence mending. A member suggested that the cream lorries running out each morning from the dairy factories should be permitted to convey the harvesters. Mr Bryant thought a sub-commit-tec- could go into details, and he re- , called that last year the actual de

mand for men was not as great as the Union had been led to believe. The Union could set up a sub-committee to handle the subject, in collabortion with the placement office. FAULTS OF EMPLOYERS. To a question, as to tire chief faults of employers, Mr Hislop said his information was that one of the chief causes of complaint was the class of food served —even though it was the same as eaten by the farmer and his family. Sometimes there were complaints about the quantity of food, the use of leisure hours, the social attitude towards employees by the employer and his family, and the domineering attitude of the employer in issuing instructions. He said the practice in the placement office was to send tire good man to the good employer, as far as possible. To Mr Wvllie, Mr Hislop said he expected amendment of the provision re half-holidays to permit of the. hours stipulated being taken between milkings. The subject was being in vestigated. Mr Hislop was heartily thanked fot clearing up many misunderstood points, and was assured that the Te Awamutu branch of the Farmers’ Union was very willing to co-operate.