ARMY HARVEST LABOUR

Timaru Herald, Volume CLIII, Issue 22477, 12 January 1943, Page 2

ARMY HARVEST LABOUR

Bivouac Camps Arranged

South Canterbury Scheme

Outlined

Arrangements are now well under way for the establishment of camps in the various districts decided upon at tlie meeting of representatives of the Army and chairman of the South Canterbury Primary Production Committees. Army officers and committee members have inspected and selected suitable sites. The districts to be covered include all the grain and seed producing land in South Canterbury, and camp sites have been selected in each district where a Primary Production Committee has been set uo. These camps will be occupied within the next few weeks, and, as one is already established in an early district, farmers are asked to advise the district member of their Primary Production Committee of their harvest labour requirements. Farmers are also asked to co-operate in cutting or pulling their crops to enable as large gangs as possible to be sent to individual farmers for stocking. This procedure would simply transport arrangements, and make for more efficient supervision. While it is recognised that difficulties will arise, Mr A. B. Struthers, secretary of the South Canterbury Primary Production Council, has been advised that the scheme is working well in other parts of the country. "A distinct advantage," Mr Struthers informed a “Timaru Herald” representative last night, “is that the men will continue to be under Army control and will continue their military training when not engaged in farm work. Then men will be transported to and from camps, and breakfast and tea will be provided by the Army. Rates of pay will be 2/3 per hour from the time the men commence work, farmers being debited for the time worked at the completion of their harvest