The Timaru Herald WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 13, 1943. ARMY FARM LABOUR

Timaru Herald, Volume CLIII, Issue 22478, 13 January 1943, Page 4

The Timaru Herald WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 13, 1943. ARMY FARM LABOUR

the Minister of Agriculture, the Hon. J. G. Barclay, explained the Army farm labour scheme to a meeting of North Otago fanners in Oamaru lasts Saturday there was criticism of the fact that the troops engaged in farm labour would receive only a trifling portion of the money paid by the farmers for their work,, the considerable remainder going into camp funds. The Mayor of Oamaru, in his comment on the scheme, said: “It just means that soldiers will receive Army pay when the men alongside them are paid the full award rales. It is hardly fair.’’ There rs something to be said both ways on this question, but the farmers are most likely to be concerned about the quality ol the labour they will be given by soldiers who may feel disgruntled about the method of payment proposed for their services. It that is the case, then the best thing for farmers to do is to make their criticism after the scheme has been put into operation. They can be doing no service to themselves by anticipating difficulties which may not arise.

This scheme to overcome the problem of labour shortage for seasonal work is the best, or nearly the best, that could be devised. Farmers, and the country generally, are extremely fortunate to have secured the cooperation of the Army for this purpose. Had the war situation shown no recent improvement in the Pacific it is doubtful whether die Army could have co-operated to anything like the present extent. Some farmers may think the scheme imperfect, but it is clearly an honest attempt bv the Government and the Armv to solve an extraordinarily difficult problem. Harvesting has to be done; it is essential for civilian and military needs that the crops should be brought in. The only question remaining is how manpower is to be made available for this purpose. Clearly the farmers cannot fftake their own arrangements, for there is not sufficient experienced farm labour left in the country to meet the seasonal demand. It is inevitable, therefore, that inexperienced labour should be called upon and the Armv has the largest manpower resources available. The Armv is ready to do the job and it will .make the utmost effort to do it well. Farmers for their part should reciprocate by contributing everything they can to the smooth working of the scheme.