Labour and Housing Shortage Poses Problem Agricultural labour and housing are increasingly claiming the attention of the Ministry of Agriculture.
Difficulty in securing agricultural labour, says the "Morning Post," has been accentuated during the present hay harvest. In many districts, an official of the Ministry said, it is difficult, or impossible to obtain Suitable casual labour.
While shortage of labour is general, it is particularly acute in districts where the erection of factori aerodrome building, or road scheme: have created a new demand for casual labour.
Representations Holding that the discrepancy between agricultural and industrial wages can only be accepted under present conditions, Ministry officials believe that the provision of improved housing facilities for farm labourers must be regarded as an important part of the problem.
Joint consideration is being given, it is understood, with the Ministry of Health, to the formulation of a scheme by which farmers might themselves be aided to provide additional cottages.
The present position is that local authorities have power to build, generally in the neighbourhood of villages, and that farmers can obtain assistance in "reconditioning" existing dwellings. No form of assistance is, however, available for the farmer who would build an extra cottage on his land for one of his own men, although the Tent which he can charge limited to about 35, to 4s. a week, Representations on these lines have been made by the National Farmers Union. In more general terms, a forthcoming report of the" Central Housing Committee of the Ministry of Health will draw attention to the urgency of the rural housing position,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.