DEMAND FOR MEN

Waikato Times, Volume 125, Issue 20952, 3 November 1939, Page 7

DEMAND FOR MEN

SHORTAGE IN NORTH HAMILTON VACANCIES PUBLIC WORKS POSITION (By Telegraph.—Special to Times) WELLINGTON, Thursday A statement that there were 240 vacancies for experienced farm labour in the North Island which the department did not have men to fill, and that in the South Island there was a surplus of 65 experienced farm workers available, was made by the Minister of Labour, the Hon. P. C. Webb, in replying to representations which a deputation from the New Zealand Farmers’ Union made this evening. Of the North Island vacancies, the Minister said, 73 were from Hamilton, and about 38 from Whangarei. He agreed that the problem was a vexed one and not easily grappled with. Mr W. W. Mulholland: I think the relation of the cost of labour to the return is a big factor. Wages Subsidy Scheme The Minister said that last year more than 600 farmers had availed themselves of the subsidy of £1 a week to keep labour on. Young men wanted some permanency in their employment. The demand was for young labour, and the great bulk of it under 21 years of age. He would like to get a list of those farm workers who were said to have gone on to public works. If a farm worker were employed on public works it was because there was no farm work available for him. The department had transferred from scheme 13 and public works more than 3500 men to farm clearing and drainage under the 4B scheme, and the Government was paying 75 per cent of the cost. The farmers seemed to be satisfied and the workers had not complained. He would want 2200 more men to go on to farms under that scheme. As far as the employment of boys on farms was concerned, the accommodation and food in some instances were not what they ought to be. He thought it was up to the Farmers’ Union to help the Government in that. HERD REDUCED LABOUR DIFFICULTY (Special to Times) PUKEKOHE, Thursday “I have reduced my herd by 20 cows since last season, owing to the farm labour position,” said the chairman, Mr C. A. Moore, of East Tamaki, at a, meeting of the Franklin sub-provincial executive of the Farmers’ Union, when complaints were made by members that they were experiencing difficulty in securing suitable labour for their farms. Members remarked that it was proving quite impossible to increase production with the farm labour position at it was to-day.