FREE FARM LABOUR

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 75, Issue 140, 16 June 1932, Page 5

FREE FARM LABOUR

THE SUBSIDY QUESTION SOME CONFLICTING OPINIONS Another lengthy round-table discussion as to whether farmers should subsidise the men whom they were employing on their farms under “free” labour conditions took place at n meeting of tho Wanganui Unemploy ment Committee yesterday morning The certifying officer. Mr. E. W. F Gohns. considered that as the employ ment of the men would result, in fur ther production the farmer was mor ally bound to pay. if not at the pres ent. then over a two-year period. Mr. T. Dix was certain that the farmers were unable to pay, and he considered that if they wore asked to do so tho scheme would fall flat. Tho chairman, Mr. A. F. Halligan, considered that it was “all moonshine” to say that they could not pay a smal 1 amount. As a result of tho discussion those farmers who are willing To pay something towards subsidising the mon and to give them extra work are to receive first, consideration, due regard being given to the farmers who are in financial straits and are unable to contribute. There are throe schemes under which the unemployed are placed on the farms, namely (1) the 4a scheme, under which tho farmers must employ them for a period not loss than a month and not more than 26 weeks. A single man is paid 10s subsidy by tho Government, and a married man £1 a week, in addition to any wage naid by the farmer and the employees’ keep; (2) “over-the-fence” scheme in which. an unemployed man receives the ordinary quota of work as if he were working in town and (3) the 40hour scheme. This latter scheme provides for mon who are working so far away in the country that they cannot return homo each night. They are employed continuously and “three day” men are paid £1 17s 6d a week, and “four day” men, £2 10s. Nothing, other than keep, is supplied by tho farmer. It is in these two last schemes that the Unemployment Board and the Wanganui Unemployment Committee are asking that the farmer should assist by subsidising the work. Not Paying Anything Mr. Gohns said that it was tho desire of tho Unemployment Board that the farmers should assist to pay tho men. Ho pointed out that in the Wan ganui district there were 100 to 160 farmers who were obtaining the assistance of the men “over the fence” and yet, with the exception of one or two, they were not paying anything at all. According to their statements they could not afford to pay. Mr. Gohns had personally approached four farmers who were employing men and they had promised to pay amounts ranging from £1 10s to £l6 each, which went to show that if the position were placed before tho farmers they would contribute something.

Although the farmers might not be able to pay anything to-day, there was no reason why they should be unable to do so in the future, for as a result of the work done on their properties there should be an increase of production and in a year or two they should reap the benefit. Tho Unemployment Board was prepared to spread the payment over a two-year period. The Farmers’ Plight He was pleased to know that there were some farmers who could pay, said Mr. Dix, but he knew some who were unable to do so. Only recently the Waitotara County Council had decided to charge 6d a day so as to recompense the council for expense in regard to the insurance of men employed under the relief schemes. Many farmers had since rung up the office to say that they were unable to pay that amount. “I do not think that most people realise how difficult the position is foi the farmers,” said Mr. Dix, and al luded to several cases of hardship. It was his opinion that if they were asked to pay then the scheme woul‘c fall flat. Farmers took the view that they were trying to help the country by employing the men because it. was better to have them on the farms than in the cities. Adjutant Hawkes asked whether payment was compulsory. Mr. Gohns replied that it was not compulsory. In the Waitotara County there were 80 farmers employing men. Surely they were able to pay something. “The farmers are no worse off than the business men,” said Mr. J. McDonald. He did not think that it was right that they should be spoon fedSome of the farms were going to rack and ruin with gorse and in his opinion it would be a good idea to get the Unemployment Board to ask the mortgagees to look after the farms. Mr. Dix pointed out that tho mortgagees were getting very little interest. There was no cash in tho country. Tho problem of finding out whether a farmer could pay or could not pay was stressed by Mr. G. Miller. If the farmers were pressed to pay and they could not do so, then they would not employ the men, who would have to return to the cities. The next thing that would happen would be that camps would have to bo established and that, he contended, was tho last thing that they wanted. Cities “Paying the Piper’’ “The people in the cities are ‘paying the piper’ to-day,” observed MrHalligan. They were paying the un employment taxes. If the scheme did go out and the men were employed in the cities, then the farmers would find that they could get nobody to do their work for them. “I think that it is all moonshine for people to say that they can do nothing and that they have nothing,’’ ho continued. “I think that they can help in some way. If the men go out to work for the farmers then they should help in some way.” Mr. Halligan said that he had had a num her of offers from men who were will ing to pay for one day a week and yet those positions were not being occupied. If a-farmer had no money at all. then the money spent by the Government in employing men to clear his land of gorse was wasted, because the farmer would be unable to keep i lie land clear.