MEN LEAVING FARMS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 79, Issue 279, 25 November 1936, Page 6

MEN LEAVING FARMS

SEEKING JOBS ON RAILWAYS POWERS OF THE GOVERNMENT | From enquiries made by a "Chron- | icle" reporter il would appear that i there are one or two instances of ' workers leaving farms in the Wan- I ganui district. Whether or not those ' who have forsaken that, class of cm- i ployment for railway work could not be ascertained. It is interesting to note that the Government, is alive to the trouble likely to bo caused farmers if men I decide to leave good employment and ] seek better at a moment’s notice. A warning was issued by the Minister of Public Works (Hon. R. Semple) at. | Wairoa on Sunday. He said that he would permit, no "scroungers" and ] that, steps may be taken to demand ( clearances from employers concerning men leaving farm work for railway jobs. The Ohuka Settlers’ Association , brought forward lhe question of the I farm labour shortage, which speakers said was acute in the Wairoa district. | Mr IL D. Delautour said that lhe position was becoming serious in the district owing to splendid farm workers being absorbed on railway | jobs and Maori relief work. The Minister said that the representations would receive the attention of the Government, including the suggestion that men applying Impositions on railway work should be required to show some clearance | from their last employers. “Any man who leaves work to go I on the dole and is found out," Mr Semple said, "will go off the dole quickly. Sustenance men who refuse reasonable work offered to them will lose their sustenance. We have that power, and will use it ruthlessly. We I will not allow men to scrounge on the nation. Men who will not work when I they can, have no claim to the rights of citizenship.” --