FARM LABOUR

Timaru Herald, Volume CL, Issue 22064, 10 September 1941, Page 6

FARM LABOUR

Position Of Pensioners

To enable pensioners to take up farm work as a national service without having their pensions affected because of greater earnings, the following resolution was passed at a meeting of the South Canterbury District Council of Primary Production: “That where pensioners were willing to work at shearing and seasonal work during this period of national emergency, their pensions should not be affected if they earned more than the £5O maximum allowance.” The secretary was instructed to send a copy of the resolution to the Sheepowners’ Union.

To clarify the functions -f the Primary Production Councils, and make their position clear to the public, the following resolution moved by Mr A. J. Davey was carried: “That the Minister of National Security be urged to make a public statement immediately under which District Primary Production Councils could take up the matter of appeals against or postponement of active service.”

Supervision of Farms A circular letter from the National Primary Production Council setting out suggestions for the administration of farms for men overseas was discussed. The principal difficulty in the administration of these farms would be the supply of efficient farm labour. The Council considered that retired farmers and neighbours could be found to do the necesary work of overseeing the farms, but the scheme would Ire incomplete without some provision being made for the supply of suitable labour

After consideration of the proposals and a remit on the subject from the Returned Soldiers Association during which no finality was reached, it was decided to set up a committee to go into the whole position and bring down a report. The committee comprised Messrs L. V. Talbot, J. C. Hay. W H. Orbell, A. Ward, J. Dempsey. A. J. Davey. J. Woodhead, A. Robinson and W. Scott, with a representative from the Public Trust, State Advances, Corporation and the Returned Soldiers’ Association.

Mr W. H. Orbell raised the question of the importation of Australian potatoes into New Zealand. The secretary advised that the chairman of the Potato Growers’ Committee <Mr W. J. Fletcher) had stated that the attitude of the growers was that a survey of existing stocks of potatoes should be taken before Importations were allowed. Mr T. L. Hayman endorsed this view and a remit to this effect was carried.